A notorious serial killer in Ghana faces life imprisonment with hard labor after confessing to murdering 23 people. Shariff Abdullai, also known as Christos, targeted nighttime security guards, known locally as watchmen, and individuals with intellectual disabilities using a sword-like cutlass.
Targeted Attacks Across Ghana
The killings began as early as 2021 and occurred in towns including Bole in northern Ghana and Wa in the west. A police statement details how Abdullai selected isolated victims. “He usually targets watchmen and mentally challenged persons,” the statement notes.
Abdullai confessed to killing three men with intellectual disabilities and two watchmen in Bole, along with one additional man and one woman there. He also admitted to 15 murders in Wa. Authorities report he disposed of the bodies by carrying them on his shoulder and burying them in remote bushes.
Arrest and Evidence
Security forces ended the spree through an intelligence-led operation, arresting Abdullai on October 6, 2025. At his hideout, investigators discovered a cutlass with specially designed edges, a bicycle, and a sack containing meat.
Abdullai will serve his sentence at Nsawam Medium Security Prison, located about 20 kilometers north of Accra, Ghana’s capital.
Unresolved Questions
Despite the guilty plea, the motives behind Abdullai’s choice of victims remain unclear. His actions mark him as one of Africa’s most prolific killers of the 21st century, leaving a lasting impact on communities in Ghana.
