Mahamadu Belko, a Fulani herdsman, was on Monday jailed 30 years by a Mpraeso Circuit Court for armed robbery.

Belko, 25, pleaded guilty for robbing passengers on a mini-bus of their monies and mobile phones at Kwame Dwamena, in the Kwahu North District. The court presided over by Mr Kwaku Osei, convicted him on his own plea.

Inspector Christian Apronti told the court that on June 06, Belko and seven others currently on the run stopped a Nissan mini-bus being driven by Alex Amponsah with eight passengers on board.

He said the eight Fulani herdsmen holding guns and cutlasses started firing warning shots and ordered the passengers out of the vehicle.

They then asked the passengers to lie on the ground, took their mobile phones and various sums of money and caused damage to a portion of the vehicle.

Inspector Apronti said the robbers also robbed a trader on a motor bike which was following the vehicle and escaped into the bush.

He said on June 20, Belko was arrested in connection with cattle stealing case in a nearby village and during interrogation admitted that he was a member of the gang of robbers who robbed the mini-bus at Kwame Dwamena.

Inspector Apronti said all efforts to arrest the other accomplices have proved futile.**