Regional News of Thursday, 5 December 2019

Source: starrfm.com.gh

Begoro robberies: Residents cry for national security intervention

Armed robbers have been terrorizing some communities [File photo] Armed robbers have been terrorizing some communities [File photo]

The notorious highway robbers unleashing terror on commuters in Fanteakwa North District struck again less than 24hrs after a major attack Wednesday dawn.

The robbers, whose numbers keep fluctuating were reported to be about fourteen (14) men.

They attacked a commuter on Ahomahomaso to Abuoso road after a failed operation. The victim Gabriel Soga was beaten and seriously injured. He has however been treated and discharged at Ahomahomasu CHPs zone.

The latest incident happened Wednesday evening around 7 pm.

There seems to be no end in sight to years of terror unleashed by the dreaded robbery gang operating in the area with impunity as police appear helpless in arresting them due to challenges including poor roads poor network coverage and patrol vehicles.

The robbers mostly struck on Market days and during funeral ceremonies in the area.

Residents say they will be forced to take the laws into their hands to fight the Fulani herdsmen in the area who they highly suspect to be behind the crimes.

They want the intervention of National Security and Military.

The dreadful armed robbery gang terrorising commuters in the Fanteakwa North District of the Eastern Region struck shooting one person and injured others with the butt of their guns Wednesday dawn on the Begoro to Ahomahomasu road.

According to some of the victims, the robbery gang hijacked one vehicle carrying traders after robbing them off their belongings to mount a blockage on the road.

Other vehicles onboard market women were attacked and occupants beaten and subjected to inhumane treatments before robbing them off their monies and other personal effects.

“They beat us mercilessly. One of the robbers removed the pant of a woman, used torchlight to search her private part if she was hiding some money having taken ghc400 from her”.

Police Patrol team from Begoro arrived late at the scene after distress calls hence no arrest was made.

The injured are on admission at the Begoro Government Hospital.

A similar attack last week on traders on Deedeso to Ahomahomasu road led to the shooting of at least three(3) traders.

The victims -all women were admitted at the Begoro District Hospital.

The robbery gang attacked the market women who were travelling from Dedeso community to Ahomahomasu market at dawn in two vehicles – both Hyundai H100 carrying a total of twenty-Four(24) passengers.

The robbers shot indiscriminately into one of the vehicles after the driver identified as TT failed to stop but rather accelerated to escape.

The bullets penetrated the vehicle and hit two passengers in their legs.

The other driver, Francis Terkper, however, stopped the vehicle out of fear and eventually the robbers robbed occupants of the Vehicle off their personal belongings including mobile phones and monies.

The robbers got angry at a woman who had nothing on her, hit her forehead with a stick resulting in a terrible injury.

On September 6, 2019, the robbery gang shot dead a 40-year-driver, Paul Tanor, who was driving a Toyota Matrix Saloon Car with registration number ER 5808-15 with his relatives onboard heading towards Dedeso community to attend a funeral.

Residents incessant appeal for Police visibility on the road to the community to curb the high spate of robbery incidents on the road has not been heeded.

Fiagbor Kwame, an immediate past Assembly Member told starr News many traders who used to troop to Begoro from other parts of the country are now afraid to come to market in the area due to the incessant robbery attacks.