Two suspected highway robbers, both Fulanis, have been placed in police custody at Ho for allegedly shooting a policeman in the genitals after robbing a truck driver and his mate of Gh¢900, on the Kpeve-Peki road on Republic Day.

They are Sule Sumaila, 29, who described himself as a farmer, and Musah Adams, 31, who claimed to be a bicycle repairer.

The Volta Regional Crime Officer, Superintendent A. Seidu, who disclosed this to The Ghanaian Times at Ho yesterday said the incident took place at about 3:30 a.m.

Their mode of operation, he said, was that the robbers blocked the road with a log at an obscure spot.

The Crime Officer said the roadblock compelled the driver of a truck, with registration number GT 2415 –V, to pull up only for the robbers to pounce on him and seize the money from the driver and his mate at gunpoint.

Superintendent Seidu said a Police Corporal (name withheld) who was returning from duty at Peki-Dzake, arrived at the scene on a commercial vehicle and upon seeing the log in the middle of the road, thought that an accident had occurred.

As the officer tried to move closer to the scene, the robbers who were hiding in the bush shot him in the genitals, he said.

The officer, he said returned fire, but missed the robbers who fled the scene.

He was rushed to the Peki Government Hospital and referred to the Ho Regional Hospital where he spent eight days on admission before he was discharged.

Superintendent Seidu said barely three hours after the highway robbery, the two men were arrested at the Kporvi Barrier, near Tsito, carrying three single barrel guns, a knife and 12 rounds of live AA cartridges.

They initially denied knowledge of the incident, saying that they were herdsmen working for an “Alhaji” near Juapong, but could not lead the police to the man.

“Later, upon further interrogation at the crime scene, they admitted the offence”, said Superintendent Seidu.

The Crime Officer said the police had also mounted a search for three of their accomplices who were at large, adding that the names of the fugitives were being withheld for security reasons.

He said the two men had been charged with robbery, attempted murder, and possessing firearms without lawful authority.

Superintendent Seidu said, the two men made a brief appearance before a Ho Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday and were remanded in police custody to appear again on July 14.