Crime & Punishment of Wednesday, 19 August 2009

Source: GNA

Two highway robbers arrested

Ho, Aug 19, GNA - The police early Wednesday morning arrested two armed robbers who bundled the driver of an Aflao bound passenger vehicle they boarded from Accra, drove the vehicle off the main road and robbed passengers of valuables.

Richard Uche Amadu, 30, a Cameroonian and Naa Afani Anthony, 25, a Nigerian were arrested at Tamkope near Big-Ada in the Dangbe-East district, a few hours after the incident.

Mr David Ampah-Bennin, Volta Regional Police Commander, briefing the media said, the two robbers joined and occupied the front passenger seat of the bus at around 0130 hours.

He said at around 0430 hours at Agave-Afedome Juction, near Sokpoe, approaching Sogakope, the robber nearer the driver said he wanted to alight.

Mr Ampah-Bennin said as the driver, John Kwaku Tsikata, slowed down, the robber pulled a gun on him demanding he surrendered the ignition key.

He said a struggle ensued between the driver and the robber during which a bullet went off grazing the lips of the driver. Mr Ampah-Bennin said the second robber at the front seat and an accomplice behind managed to overpower the driver, dumped him, took possession of the bus and drove off the main road towards Agave-Afedome. He said the robbers parked the bus on the way, robbed the passengers of money, watches, mobile phones, DVDs and Laptops, and abandoned the bus at Agave-Afedome.

Mr Ampah-Bennin said the patrol team at Sogakope rushed to the scene and drove the passengers to Sogakope and sent the injured to the hospital.

He said police-community collaboration led to the arrest of the two near Big-Ada with some of the stolen items but the third person who had a gun escaped.

Mr Ampah-Bennin said victims identified the robbers at the Sogakope Police Station, as those who attacked them on the highway. He said police were combing the area for the third person and urged the public to alert the police of suspected criminals for swift action. The locals told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that after their operations the robbers crossed the river Angor, a tributary of the Volta Lake at Agbeve, walked some three kilometres to Tamkope before they were arrested. 19 Aug. 09