Top Police Officer In Trouble For Selling Weapons To Armed Robbers

The Upper East Regional Police Command has confirmed that it is holding one of its men, Detective Corporal Effah Kyere Williams, with staff number 41143, in connection with an alleged armed robbery case and the unlawful release of a pistol to persons believed to be connected to the robbery under investigation.

The police officer was with the Regional CID at the Upper East Regional police headquarters in Bolgatanga and Arms and Ammunition Clerk, before he was arrested.

Addressing the media, the regional police commander, DCOP Redeemer Vincent Dedjoe, said a mobile money merchant was robbed at gunpoint on his way home from work.

Due to an injury he sustained from a gunshot, the merchant was rushed to the hospital and he reported the case to the police after he had been discharged.

According to the merchant, after work on 13th September, he was on his way home when two armed men on a Honda motorbike, ordered him to stop. Soon after he had stopped, one of the armed men shot at him with a pistol, but missed him narrowly, thereby leaving a wound on his forehead.

The merchant reported that the armed robbers took away some phones and accessories, as well as an amount of GH¢8,000 – all contained in a bag he was holding.

According to DCOP Dedjoe, on September 15, the police started its investigation which led to the arrest of one Abdullai Issaka, aged 26, and when a search was conducted in his room, a Bruni pistol purse was found, and five rounds of ammunition were also retrieved from him.

DCOP Dedjoe claimed that during interrogation, Abdullai Issaka mentioned one Douglas Ayine Akologo alias W.O, as the owner of the pistol purse. The police arrested W.O. and a search in his room also revealed a Bruni Mod 92 pistol in good condition, with 13 rounds of ammunition. The police also found 165 Ridden H.M. Loom 99 Exp 4070 explosives in his room. However, the pistol found in W.O.’s room did not march the purse found in Abdullai Issaka’s room.

During interrogation, W.O. said he received the pistol from one Mumuni Yakubu alias Jacob, aged 40, and when Mumuni Yakubu was arrested and interrogated, he also mentioned that the pistol that was found in W.O.’s room was given to him by Detective Corporal Effah Kyere Williams to be sold at a price of GH¢2,000.

According to Mumuni Yakubu, the pistol was given to him in July 2017.

On September 18, Augustine Awilo was also picked up and a search conducted in his room revealed 8 AAA cartridges concealed in a black jacket and other items, including the bag and phones taken from the mobile money merchant on the day of the robbery.

Suspects have since been arraigned before a court of law and have been remanded in police custody to continue helping in investigations.

Meanwhile, DCOP Dedjoe has given the assurance that Corporal Effah would not be shielded by the Police Service.

He said the police would parade the suspects for a public identification at a date to be announced.