The Ada Divisional Police Command is on a manhunt for a gang of robbers who reportedly attacked a filling station at Tojer near Kasseh in the Ada-East District yesterday.

The acting manager of the filling station, Mr. James Selassie Egbede, who narrated the incident to THE PUBLISHER, said security men at post saw six of the robbers entering the station at about 2am and sensing danger, fired some warning shots, but the suspected robbers also returned fire. He said in the heat of the exchanges, one of the robbers sustained gunshot wounds but managed to escape with his colleagues.

He also noted that one of the robbers, who was wielding an AK47 assault rifle, was dressed in a police uniform.

This is the second time the station was hit by robbers. On 7th March, 2018, 20-year old William Gbedze was arrested by the Sogakofe Police for robbing the station, but before his trial could begin, the suspect reportedly committed suicide in his police cell.

Second robbery in two weeks.

Confirming the story, the Ada Divisional Police Commander, Chief Superintendent George A. Kumah, told THE PUBLISHER this is the second robbery attack on fuel stations in the area in the last the weeks.

He disclosed that about week ago, a similar attack was recorded at the Puma filing station at Kasseh, which involved about 10 robbers.

Touching on the police’s inability to respond timeously to distress calls, the commander stated that his outfit is numerically understaffed, in addition to logistical constraints.

He said the Ada Divisional Command, which covers the two Ada Districts and part of Dawa, has no police patrol vehicle, adding that the only available car was a pickup meant for administrative works by the Divisional commander.

Commander Kumah, however, appealed to the general public, especially clinics and hospitals in and around Ada, to be on the lookout for men who may report with gunshot wounds for dressing, and alert the police.