Tema, Aug. 12, GNA - Twenty-two suspected armed robbers, including juveniles between the ages of 11 and 21 years have been arrested by the Tema Police at Gorm, a community near Ada in the early hours of Tuesday One of the suspects was shot dead by the police when they (robbers) attacked some residents in the community at about 1230 hours. Briefing journalists, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Augustine Gyening, Tema Regional Police Commander said another suspect, who was nearly lynched by residents of the community, is currently in a critical condition.

The Commander noted that the death occurred because the robbers engaged the police patrol team in a shoot-out. ACP Gyening said the robbers believed to be landguards operate at Dawhenya, Zenu and Gbetsiley areas. Some of the criminals, he said, hail from Tamale, Bawku, Ningo and Ada in the country and Mali.

He said the police had information that the criminals were attacking unsuspecting residents and visitors, who joined the people of Ada over the weekend to celebrate their annual Asafotufiam (festival). The residents, he said, assisted the Police to arrest 13 of the suspects during the operation, while the remaining nine were also rounded up later.

According to the Regional Police Commander, items retrieved from the robbers included a large number of assorted mobile phones, one DVD player, one television, travelling bags, machetes and different types of knives as well as some personal effects. He cautioned the public to desist from hiring the services of Landguards saying the police would not entertain their activities as most of them metamorphose into armed robbers at night to terrorise innocent people.