Police in Bolgatanga on the night of Sunday, July 3 killed two of four robbers who, for some time, have been tormenting people of the Upper East region.

The robbers were shot dead during a fierce gun battle with the police at their hideout at Tanzui, a suburb of the regional capital upon a tip off.

The leader of the criminal gang whose name has been given as Atiah and another suspect, who wielded an AK47 managed to escape with gunshot wounds.

Briefing the media, Upper East Regional Police Commander, DCOP Simon Yao Afeku, said: “Police pursued this gang of four to their hideout, which precisely was in an uncompleted building on a rocky hill enclave at Tanzui, a suburb of Bolgatanga. They were preparing to go for an attack when we encountered them. On noticing the presence of the police, they opened fire at the police. The police returned fire so there was a shootout and when things settled, two of them had fallen. When the two were conveyed to the hospital, they were pronounced dead by the hospital authorities”.

“One of the bodies has been identified as Alimna, who currently lies at the hospital morgue. Two others wielding AK47 rifles managed to escape. One of them is believed to be the leader of the group”, he added.

Items retrieved from the robbers’ hideout were five motorbikes believed to have been snatched from victims; one locally-made pistol, a number of AK47 empty shells, military caps and t-shirts, four screwdrivers, one police whistle, one flat screen TV and a decoder, 10 mobile phones and a double edged machete.

Also, a laptop believed to belong to a policewoman was found in their hideout.

The police have pledged to ensure the people of the region go about their daily activities freely without fear.

“Let me use your medium to assure the good people of this region that we shall continue effectively deploying all available resources at our disposal and of course work lawfully to ensure a congenial atmosphere for them to go about their basic livelihood and the government’s development agenda to be carried out”, DCOP Afeku noted.