Patrol team kills armed robbers in shoot out

Kumasi, Feb. 14, GNA - The joint police-military patrol team on early Tuesday morning shot dead two armed robbers at Mbrom in Kumasi. The team also succeeded in arresting a third robber whose name was given only as Fatawu while one of the robbers managed to escape. Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Frank Adu-Poku, Ashanti Regional Police Commander, who briefed the press on the incident in Kumasi on Tuesday, said police had information at about 11.30 pm on Monday night that armed robbers were attacking a family at Fante New Town.

He said before attacking the family, the robbers seized a saloon car from one Eric Opoku Boateng for their operations. ACP Adu-Poku said on receiving the information, the patrol team moved in and accosted the robbers at Mbrom who on seeing the patrol team opened fire on the team.

He said the team responded appropriately and in the heat of the shooting, one of the robbers was captured after a fierce struggle and gave his name only as Fatawu.

The Ashanti Regional Police Commander said the capture of Fatawu did not stop the shooting and when it died down, two of the armed robbers were dead.

He said the patrol team retrieved two locally made pistols, an imported revolver, a sophisticated pistol, two live cartridges, a dagger and 65,000 cedis cash.

ACP Adu-Poku said one of the robbers managed to escape and therefore appealed to the public to assist the police to apprehend him. He gave the assurance that the police remained focused and maintained its pledge to change the face of crime, especially armed robberies in Ashanti and therefore, called for support.