Robber Gunned Down

The suspected robber shot dead by Police A LONE ARMED robber, who shot a man, identified only as Alhaji in his forehead and violently dispossessed a woman of her GH¢300 and three cellular phones on Thursday, has been killed by a police patrol team at Atonsu Kuwait in Kumasi.

The Alhaji, who is said to be currently responding to treatment at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi, was shot when he attempted arresting the robber during the attack on the lady at gun point.

Briefing the media, the Ashanti Regional Police Commander, DCOP Kwaku Ayensu Opare-Addo, said shortly after the attack on the victims at about 7:30 pm, the police patrol team led by Inspector A.K. Defor rushed to the scene where the lady who was gripped with fear narrated her ordeal to them.

Based on the information given by the woman, the commander said the police cordon off an uncompleted building where the lone robber, carrying a locally-manufactured pistol had taken cover with the booty.

Mr. Opare-Addo pointed out that on seeing the security personnel who were armed to the teeth, the robber started firing at them, an action which provoked the patrol team to return fire in the process of which the robber dropped dead.

When searched the police retrieved GH¢300, a locally-made pistol, three live cartridges and four mobile phones three of which were identified by the lady as hers.  

The body of the deceased robber, according to the police boss, has since been deposited at the KATH morgue while the Alhaji is responding to treatment at the same hospital.

The police commander said the killing of Thursday's robber brings to five, the number of armed robbers who have been shot dead by the police and a civilian in Kumasi since January, 2009.

DCOP Opare-Addo said one of the major security challenges facing the regional police command is street robbery and therefore urged members of the public to exercise self-conscious security at all times.

He gave the assurance that the security agencies are firmly in control of dealing with the crime situation of the region.

From James Quansah, Kumasi