A total of 22 suspected highway robbers have been arrested at a Anyiresu,a fishing community at the shore of Affram river in Affram Plains as part of special operation to clampdown on alarming robbery cases in the area.
Police also retrieved two sacks of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp, ten(10) SB short guns, four locally manufactured pistols, fifteen live BB cartridges, two chainsaw machines, ten empty BB cartridges and two boxes of assorted restricted drugs from the suspeects.
One of the suspects who exchanged gunfire with Police was shot by the police and was wounded.
The suspects are Yakubu , 34, Sulley Issah, 34, Kwadwo Ekeham , 18, Agbemtu Francis , 47 ,Hilali Dari, 30, Dodzi Efiavor , 25,Mawutor Agbala ,28, Kofi Musah , 23, Mohammed Atuyie ans ,39.
The rest are Osman Sumana ,28,Bone Sylvester, 34, Richard Gamor ,28, Haruna Kodo ,23, Issah Joseph , 26, Mukalia Alhassan , 20, Lumor Apator , 29, Fatawu Adams , 28,
Kwagise Tsotovor , 48, Efia Agbale , 48, ,Dodzi Akpatsu ,25, Sanka Abdul , 30 and Bertha Tetteh, 35.
The suspects were arrested Wednesday September 19,2018 at 11:20 am by a joint team of Police and National security operatives embarking on a special operation in the enclave.
According to the Public Relations Officer of the Eastern Regional Police Command,DSP Ebenezer Tetteh, the operation team led by DSP Daniel Azugu arrested the suspects based on ntelligence gathered about their involvement in the higway robbery incidents in the area.
“they were arrested at a hide out at Anyiresu, a village at the over bank of the Afram lake are among those behind the recent robbery attacks within the Kwahu enclave. That when a search was conducted at the place of arrest thirty two sacks of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp, ten(10) SB short guns, four locally manufactured pistols, fifteen live BB cartridges, two chainsaw machines, ten empty BB cartridges and two boxes of assorted restricted drugs were retrieved”.
However, one of the suspects by name Brama salifu aged 70 who exchanged gunfire with the operation team in the cause of the arrest was shot at his right hand . He was overpowered, arrested and rushed to Kwahu Government Hospital, Atibie, for treatment under guard. Suspects are detained for screening and exhibits retained for further investigation.
The latest arrest bring to about 38 suspects arrested within a week in Affram Plains and Kwahu enclave.One has been jailed 15 years after pleading guilty in court.
The special operation engineered by Bryan Acheampong, Deputy National Security Minister follows residents in the Affram Plains and Kwahu Tafo area earlier agitations worry over increasing spate of highway robberies in the area which according to them is having negative impact on socio-economic activities .
The Affram Plains is one of the food basket areas of the country producing varied food crops, fish, livestock among others hence attracts many traders from across the country.
The robbers appear to have taken advantage of the brisk nature of business activities in the area and attacking traders on frequent basis.
“This area was not known for this kind of armed robbery but for the past three years, our market women are attacked almost every market day. So we want Soldiers on our road or the Police in this area replaced because they connive with the armed robbers,” Nana Kakari Ansong, Gyaasehene of Pitiku told Starr News Eastern Regional Correspondent, Kojo Ansah who visited the area.
According to the residents, the robbers inhumanely attacked a patient on referral to hospital while Prison officers transporting inmate from ForiFori Prison Camp to Nsawam were also robbed taking away the Uniform of a Prison officer and other accoutrements.
Source: Ghana/Starrfmonline.com/103.Kojo Ansah
