General News of Tuesday, 17 August 2010

Source: GNA

Seven Highway Robbers Arrested

Kadjebi, Aug 17, GNA - The alertness exhibited by the people of Pampawie and adjoining villages in the Kadjebi District led to the arrest of six suspects believed to be involved in last Friday dawn's highway robbery at Pepesu.

They are Abdul Ousman, Mohammed Bube, Fuseini Abubakar, Francis Tombianu, Kwame Abotsi and Dzitrame Apawasah.

According to Mr Seth Alifui, Kadjebi District Chief Executive, two suspects each were arrested on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and sent to the Police Station following a tip off that they might be hiding in their area.

The DCE, therefore, appealed to travellers, who had become victims of the robbers, to assist in identifying them to aid investigations and prosecution.

Mr Alifui commended the Police-Community joint taskforce for their

cooperation, which facilitated the arrest of the suspects and called for its sustenance.

He said the District Security Council (DISEC) would soon meet on the issue and explore the avenue for replicating the Nkwanta District's example of erecting Police barrier at the spot, which had witnessed two robberies since January.

Mr Alifui said DISEC would also consider encouraging mobile telephony companies to extend coverage along its highways as permanent solutions to the problem.

Meanwhile, information reaching the GNA indicates that a seventh suspect was arrested on Tuesday dawn at Breweniase in the Nkwanta District.

Highway robbers last Friday mounted a barricade on a segment of the Hohoe-Nkwanta road at Pepesu and allegedly raped and seized cash, mobile phones and other valuables from travellers on both sides of the road.

The robbers mostly of Fulani extraction, reportedly, subjected their victims to torture and other forms of dehumanizing acts and fled into the bush on the approach of the Police Highway Patrol team.