The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) has taken over investigations into the killing of a 35-year-old taxi driver whose body was found inside his vehicle on the Kotwi-Nkoransa road in the Atwima Kwanwoma District of the Ashanti Region.

The deceased, identified as Kwabena Awuah, popularly known as “Asawado”, was found dead in his taxi, bearing registration number AW 2458-20, after residents alerted authorities early Tuesday morning.

Frank Appiagyei, Assembly Member for the Nkoranza-Ampabame No. 2 Electoral Area, said he received a distress call reporting that a man’s body had been discovered inside a vehicle.

“I quickly went to the crime scene. Even before that, the police commander had been alerted, so he deployed his men while crime scene investigators were also brought to the scene,” he told journalists.

“He was found with bruises on his face, with blood oozing from his body parts. At some point traditional authorities had to perform some rites before the body was handed to the police to do their work”, Appiagyei revealed.

Police from the Trede Police Station responded to the scene before officers from the Regional CID assumed responsibility for the investigation.

Preliminary information indicates that the deceased is believed to have been attacked by unknown assailants around midnight while working.

Residents said Kwabena Awuah had a misunderstanding with his wife at about 8:00 p.m. on Monday.

Despite the incident, he reportedly informed people around him at about 11:00 p.m. that he was leaving home to work.

His body was discovered the following morning inside the taxi, prompting a police investigation.

The body has been conveyed to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital mortuary for preservation and autopsy.

Police say investigations are ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the killing and identify those responsible.

The motive for the attack remains unknown.