IGP deploys special investigative team to probe death of UCC student Innocentia Avinu

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Christian Tetteh Yohuno, has deployed a special team of experienced investigators and intelligence officers to the Central Region to support ongoing investigations into the death of a University of Cape Coast (UCC) student, Innocentia Avinu.

The move is part of a broader operational response by the Ghana Police Service aimed at ensuring a thorough, professional, and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of the 20-year-old student, whose disappearance and subsequent death have sparked widespread concern among students, family members, and the public.

In a statement issued on June 15, 2026, the Ghana Police Service announced that the deployment of the specialized team is intended to reinforce ongoing investigations and provide additional technical expertise and intelligence support to officers already handling the case in the Central Region.

According to the statement, the team will work closely with regional police commanders and investigators to strengthen evidence-gathering efforts and accelerate the investigative process.

“The deployment forms part of the broader operational response by the Ghana Police Service to ensure a thorough and coordinated investigative process in the region,” the statement said.

“The team is expected to work closely with regional command structures to strengthen fact-finding efforts and provide additional technical and intelligence support on the ground.”

Police authorities emphasized that all available resources are being deployed to uncover the circumstances leading to the student's death and to ensure that any persons found responsible are brought to justice.

The Police Service further reassured the family of the deceased, the University of Cape Coast community, and the general public that the investigation would be conducted with professionalism, diligence, and transparency.

The Service noted that public confidence in the investigative process remains a priority and pledged to keep stakeholders informed as the case progresses.

The deployment by the IGP is being viewed as a demonstration of the seriousness with which the police administration is treating the matter.

Innocentia Avinu, a Level 200 student at the University of Cape Coast, was reported missing on June 11, 2026.

According to reports, she was last seen at the Ayensu Plaza Hostel on the UCC campus and was wearing a black dress at the time of her disappearance.

Following her disappearance, family members and friends launched an extensive search and appealed to the public for information that could help locate her.

The case quickly attracted attention on social media, with students and concerned citizens sharing messages and photographs in an effort to assist in finding her.

The search took a tragic turn on June 12 when a body was discovered at Hatchland Beach Resort near Cape Coast.

Police officers were dispatched to the scene and commenced investigations into the discovery.

Subsequent identification procedures confirmed that the deceased was Innocentia Avinu.

According to Chief Inspector Isaac Evans Ettie of the Police Public Affairs Unit in the Central Region, a relative initially identified a photograph of the deceased at a police station before formal confirmation was carried out at the mortuary.

“The Dean of Students was informed, and together with the police and family members, they proceeded to the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital mortuary, where the body was shown to the family and confirmed to be that of Innocentia Avinu,” he explained.

Chief Inspector Ettie disclosed that an initial examination of the body did not reveal any visible physical injuries.

“The body was carefully inspected in the presence of family members, and there were no physical marks on it,” he stated.

He added that officers from the Regional Crime Scene Management Team visited and processed the scene as part of ongoing investigations.

The absence of obvious external injuries has heightened interest in the findings of the forthcoming autopsy, which investigators believe could provide critical information regarding the cause and manner of death.

The body of Innocentia Avinu remains at the mortuary of the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital pending a full autopsy examination.

Investigators are expected to rely heavily on the autopsy report to determine the exact cause of death and establish whether any criminal activity was involved.

The findings are also expected to guide the next phase of police investigations.

The death of the young student has generated shock and sadness across the University of Cape Coast community, with students, lecturers, and administrators calling for a comprehensive investigation.

Many students have expressed concerns about safety and security on and around campus, while family members continue to seek answers regarding the circumstances that led to Innocentia Avinu’s death.

As investigations continue, the deployment of a special police team signals an intensified effort by law enforcement authorities to uncover the facts and provide closure to the bereaved family and the university community.