Police arrest four suspected armed robbers at Janga in West Mamprusi

Tamale, Sept.17, GNA - Four Fulani herdsmen suspected to have robbed market women and men and other passengers at gun point on the Wungu-Yaame feeder road had been arrested.

Larya Issah, 21, Norma Talley Hamidu, 25, Yahaya Berry, 22 and Iddrisa Bande Musah, 20 on September 13, attacked a Benz Bus with registration number As 9463 and robbed passengers and the driver of the bus who were heading towards Walewale of the sum of 4,495,000 cedis. Briefing the GNA about the incident, the Northern Regional Police Commander, Assistant Police Commissioner, E.O. Brakatu said on September 13, at about 1900 hrs, the Police at Walewale had a tip-off that armed robbers had attacked passengers on the Wungu-Yaame road, 20 kilometre from Walewale.

Upon the tip-off, the police immediately proceeded to the scene but when the robbers who were riding on two motorbikes, one of them "Leopard" with registration number NR 1256U and the other "Royal" unlicensed, saw the police approaching, they decided to abandoned the motorbikes and fled into the bush. He said the police found a small bag tied on the carrier of the unregistered motorbike and when it was searched, they found one SB short gun with one "AA" empty cartridge shell and one live "AA" cartridge. One gun with several rounds of 9mm ammunitions with a black cap used as a lid to cover their face and a muffler as well as a gown were also found in bag.

The Commissioner said the two motorbikes and the weapons were being kept as exhibits to help the police in their investigations. He said, while the police were trailing the suspects, they received information that a Fulani herdsman suspected to be involved in the September 13 robbery case was receiving medical treatment at Janga, near Nasia in the West Mamprusi District. He said the Police were told that the Chief and the youth of the village had mobilised to arrest the suspect and others who had accompanied him to the village and therefore needed police assistance. Commissioner Brakatu said the police were detailed to rush to Janga where they arrested the four Fulani herdsmen suspected to be involved in the September 13 robbery case. They were kept in police custody to assist in their investigations.

He said upon interrogations, Larya Issah, confessed his involvement in the September 13 robbery case and mentioned the three other suspects as his accomplices. He also mentioned two others (names withheld for security reasons) who are now on the run as his accomplices. All the three arrested accomplices had denied their involvement in the robbery case.

Mr. Shani Issah, the driver to the Benz Bus and some of the passengers were helping the police in their investigations. No injury was caused to any of the passengers. Commissioner Brakatu said the police were making efforts to arrest the two accomplices, who were on the run and appealed to the public to volunteer information to the police to facilitate their arrest. The Police Regional Command commended the chief and people of Janga for their exemplary alertness and patriotism in taking bold steps to facilitate the arrest of the suspected robbers. Commissioner Brakatu said: "It is our hope that other communities would emulate our dear brothers and sisters of Janga to enable the police to get rid off all criminals from the society."