Police winning war against armed robbery… As notorious robbers are paraded
The Ghana Police Service (GPS) has mapped out proactive strategies to curb the current incessant armed robbery menace and other crimes in the country. These strategies, according to the police administration, included the re-introduction of maritime policing, informant reward system, creation of an Intelligence unit and re-activation of traditional policing methods.
Addressing the press on police operational strategies in combating armed robberies and other crimes in Accra yesterday, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Paul Tawiah Quaye said the prevalence of armed robbery and other forms of criminality has affected the social atmosphere of peace and tranquillity in the country.
“A critical analysis of statistics, during the period under review, shows that most of these robberies committed throughout the country, especially in the large Metropolitan cities and towns were undetected,” he emphasized.
According to the IGP, following the adoption of the strategies, there has been drastic reduction in the overall trend of armed robberies in the country, adding that “80% of persons involved in robberies that have occurred since the introduction of these measures have been arrested.”
He noted that although they have chalked remarkable success, they would not be complacent, stressing that the police was committed to continue to develop and strengthen the operational strategies adopted, with a view to enhancing their effectiveness in combating robbery.
Mr. Quaye advised Ghanaians that the fight against criminals was not the sole preserve of the police, but the citizens as well. “In this connection, we invite all identifiable stakeholder groups and institutions as key partners to help strategize to stem the tide of criminality in our various communities. The fruit of law and order, peace and tranquillity is a benefit that is enjoyed by all citizens and residents within the territorial boundaries of the country,” he observed.
Mr. Quaye insisted that there was the need to positively identify the sociological and criminology root causes of the problem, so as to be able to bring on board all partner institutions including the Universities, Research institutions and the courts to adopt a holistic and scientific approach towards solving the disturbing phenomenon of armed robbery. “We cannot continue to scratch the surface of the problem without getting to the roots,” he said.
The Greater Accra Regional Commander, Ms Rose Bio Atinga, for her part touched on the arrest of a syndicate who has been responsible for major robberies in the country. Members of the syndicate include Kofi Afoakwa, a.k.a Kofi Rasta, a.k.a 'Not Nice', his elder brother YawAfoakwa, a.k.a Dadisen, a notorious criminal on police wanted list, Awudu, Dropam, Kingsley Lawani, a.k.a Benin Boy, Dotse Babanawo, a.k.a Thunder, a.k.a CK Isaac, Addis Ababa and Isaac Oppong.
Some of the robberies committed are as follows, on 10th October, this year, they attacked a bullion van at Trede Filling Station in Kumasi, and snatched an AK 47 rifle from the police. Two days after they went to Tema and snatched a security man's pick-up. The next morning, they snatched a bullion van at Spintex road and killed Lance Corporal Samuel Antwi and snatched his AK47 rifle.
“They could not however snatch the money as they were pursued by the police, who made them abandon the pickup and ran away into a trotro vehicle, after shooting indiscriminately at some passers by, injuring several people and the cashier of the bullion van in the process,” Ms Atinga said.
On October 27, this year, the gang went to Antis Company Ltd. at Agbogba, where the Trust bank officials had gone to collect money from a cement and iron rod distributor. They snatched one policeman's AK 47 assault rifle, but this time there was a second policeman in the vehicle who shot at one of the robbers, as a result of which they abandoned the bullion van and fled.
The gang was responsible for the Madina Ecobank robbery where a policeman was killed by Dopram, and his weapon taken away together with the monies in the bullion van.
The Ga Rural bank robbery at Taifa, St. John's Forex Bureau robbery, Tema Iron & Paint Company Limited,. Sethi Brothers, Spintex road snatching of Toyota Pick-up belonging to National Security, Bullion van robbery at Lashibi-Klagon area where a policeman was killed and his AK 47 weapon taken away from him. A forex bureau at Tema Community One and Atala Company Limited, Achimota, were all committed by the gang.
Police shot and killed one Thunder, who attempted shooting at a police officer when they went for his arrest. During a search in his home the following were retrieved; a 4x4 Ford vehicle, which was originally wine in colour with registration No. GT 8682Z, but has been changed to ash with registration No. GW 7422 Z, P38 pistols - 2 imported with 11 rounds of ammunition, one locally made pistol with 4 rounds of bb cartridges, one motor bike, five vehicle number plates, one police cap (the new type), one military camouflage trousers, Airborne Force beret, a military top vest, a military raincoat, 26 half pieces of cloths, ID cards and other documents.
In Isaac Oppong's residence, the police found one AK 47 rifle No. AZ 2901 with three magazines containing 16 ammunitions, one silent pistol with one magazine containing five rounds of ammunitions, one hack saw blade with the frame, five mobile phones, a Ghanaian passport and a driver's license.