Four more police officers and one civilian have been busted for their involvement in the bullion van robberies that rocked Ghana last year following painstaking investigations.
The suspects include Constable Affisu Yaro Ibrahim, Constable Richard Boadu, Constable Rabiu Jambedu, Constable Albert Ofosu and Suspect, Razak Alhassan, a civilian.
In a related development, two police officers namely Constable Reindolph Gyimah Ansah and L/ Cpl Stephen Kwaku Nyame who had earlier been arrested in the ongoing investigations have died, according to a police release.
The two were reportedly shot and were pronounced dead on arrival at the Police Hospital where they were rushed to while other suspects believed to have sustained gunshot wounds managed to escape.
The Police are thus counting on the cooperation of all public and private health facilities within the Accra-Tema area to report to the police if they find any persons with gunshot wounds.
The Police has further assured Ghanaians of its determination to continue to take the fight to criminals to ensure the safety and security of all persons. “
We urge anyone with relevant information to contact the nearest police station,” the Police added in their statement.
The attacks on bullion vans became rampant in the year 2021 with a number of injuries and deaths recorded.
As a result of the rampancy, soldiers were tasked to escort bullion vans to reduce the attacks.
Below is a breakdown of bullion attacks recorded in the first half of the year 2021;
January
On January 18, some highway robbers numbering about 10, attacked a bullion van travelling on a section of the Adansi Fomena road in the Ashanti Region and an amount of GHC500,000 was stolen.
Sources indicate that the van, with registration number GT 543-19, was attacked around 10:30 AM on the Adansi Fomena Road.
The driver of the vehicle survived while the police officer escorting the van was killed. His AK47 assault rifle was stolen.
March
In broad daylight on March 1, a bullion van belonging to a popular bank was robbed on the Spintex Road at Baatsona near the Danpong Hospital by some armed men numbering about 4 according to eyewitnesses.
Sources say that the incident happened around 3:30 PM.
Around the said time, a Black Toyota Camry overtook the van and blocked its way. An occupant of the Camry immediately came down and gave a warning shot into the air.
The driver of the bullion van and one official from the bank escaped while the escorting police officer was assaulted by the robbers.
The robbers broke into the van and escaped with the money.
June
The month of June also recorded two bullion van attacks in a span of 3 days.
The first incident happened on June 14. A bullion van was attacked at Adedenkpo near James Town in Accra.
A young police officer escorting the van and a woman were killed. The driver of the vehicle sustained serious injuries and the robbers bolted with the money.
The second attack happened on June 17. Passengers in a bullion van with registration number GN 6956- 17 were attacked on the Winneba-Accra highway.
The unknown assailants shot at the van at the Okyereko and Dominase portion of the Winneba-Accra stretch.
Aside the driver, the van was occupied by two policemen with an amount of ¢550,000 on board.
Fortunately for them, they escaped the gunshots and were rescued by the Winneba Divisional Police who escorted them back to Accra.
The robberies continued in the month of October 2021 in Tarkwa in the Western Region. The content of the bullion van was robbed by two armed men amidst sporadic shooting.
According to the state-owned newspaper, Daily Graphic, over ¢107,000 being carried on the bullion van, was robbed in front of a supermarket in the centre of town.
There were no casualties as the robbers reportedly took the money without any resistance.
Source: Mypublisher24.com