The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Christian Tetteh Yohuno, has dispatched a special team of seasoned investigators and intelligence officers to the Central Region to assist in investigations into the death of Innocentia Avinu, a student of University of Cape Coast.
The deployment forms part of the Ghana Police Service’s efforts to intensify investigations and uncover the circumstances surrounding the death of the 20-year-old student.
In a statement issued on June 15, 2026, the Police Service said the team would provide additional technical expertise and intelligence support to complement ongoing investigations in the region.
According to the statement, the initiative is aimed at ensuring a comprehensive and coordinated investigative process, with the special team working closely with regional police command structures to strengthen evidence-gathering and fact-finding efforts.
The Police Service assured the family of the deceased, the university community, and the general public of its commitment to conducting a professional, transparent, and thorough investigation.
Innocentia Avinu, a Level 200 student at the University of Cape Coast, was reported missing on June 11, 2026. Reports indicate that she was last seen at Ayensu Plaza Hostel on campus, wearing a black dress.
Following her disappearance, her family launched a search and appealed to the public for information that could lead to her whereabouts.
The search took a tragic turn when a body was discovered at Hatchland Beach Resort on June 12. Police later confirmed the deceased to be Innocentia Avinu after her family identified the body.
According to Chief Inspector Isaac Evans Ettie, a relative initially identified a photograph of the deceased at a police station before further confirmation was conducted at the mortuary.
He explained that the university’s Dean of Students, police officers, and family members subsequently visited the mortuary at Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, where the body was formally identified.
Chief Inspector Ettie noted that a preliminary examination of the body revealed no visible physical injuries. He added that the Regional Crime Scene Team processed the scene, while the body remains at the mortuary awaiting an autopsy.
“The body was carefully inspected in the presence of family members, and no physical marks were found. The Regional Crime Scene Team processed the scene, and investigations are ongoing,” he stated.
Investigators are expected to rely on the autopsy findings to help determine the cause of death as inquiries continue.