Johnson Kombian, nicknamed " Garkum, " was born into a farming family in Nakpanduri, Ghana' s North- East region. Known for producing a local alcoholic beverage called ' Pito' , the Kombian family held little interest in education, and Johnson dropped out of school in class six to join a local gang of dropout students notorious for terrorizing residents. Rumors circulated that Garkum possessed mystical powers that allowed his gang to rob and steal from local businesses without getting caught.

Kombian' s signature move involved issuing threats to victims in advance, which he then carried out in nighttime attacks, making off with their belongings. Through a series of robberies and assaults across Northern and Upper East Ghana, he quickly became a notorious figure synonymous with terror, particularly in the Garu- Tempane- Bawku areas. Intense police monitoring and surveillance eventually led to Kombian' s arrest and a 5- year prison sentence. However, on January 15, 2010, he escaped from custody. While on the run, Kombian allegedly threatened senior police officers involved in his initial capture and conviction.

On October 17, 2010, Kombian and his accomplices ambushed three police officers in Nakpanduri, leading to a gun battle in which two officers tragically lost their lives. Kombian remained at large until November 19, 2010, when a police informant lured him to Togo under the pretext that his girlfriend was critically ill. Togolese police then ambushed and arrested Kombian, handing him over to Ghanaian authorities at the Aflao border.