2 killed policemen were leading police to gang hideout – Kwesi Ofori

Following public queries as to how the two policemen, who had earlier been arrested and were in police custody as part of investigations into the recent bullion van robberies were killed, it has been explained that they were in the company of the police and were leading police to the hideout of the suspected criminal gang.

According to the Director-General of Police Public Affairs, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP), Mr Kwesi Ofori, the two suspects were arrested to assist the police to a location at Borteyman near Ashaiman.

“And an intelligence-led field operation took off and in the process, there were heavy exchange of fire and the two sustained gunshot injuries and were taken to the police hospital in Accra but they later passed on,” Mr Kwesi Ofori said while providing a clarification in a radio interview monitored by Graphic Online on Accra based Joy FM on Wednesday morning [March 9, 2022]

He said "the police were shot at, there was exchange of fire and they were injured in the process and they were sent to the hospital and they passed on.”

“So let us understand this, that in police operations, they are high risks in nature and at the time the raid took place it was very serious and well targeted operations and even as I speak to you, we've arrested four policemen, one other civilian and they will be put before court,” Mr Ofori added.

The police announced the death of the two and the arrest of five other suspects including four policemen and one civilian on Tuesday night [March 8, 2022].

Related: Two policemen "fingered" as brains behind multiple bullion van robberies

But since then, public discussions, especially on social media have questioned how the two suspects who were in custody found themselves on the field and were killed.

Explaining in the radio interview, the Director-General of Police Public Affairs said they were leading the police to the hideout of the suspected criminal hideout and added, "the police will continue to aggressively pursue robbers of any kind to make sure that our people live in peace and dignity.”

He said it was a “grand operation” and asked whether it was fire from the police that killed the two or from the gang, Mr Ofori said: “they opened fire on the police and the police also retaliated and that is why we said we believe some of them might have sustained injuries and are appealing to medical authorities to provide us with related information if they come for treatment.”

“The criminals opened fire on the police and the police fired back, in the process the two suspects sustained injuries…”
Mr Ofori said the case was still under investigations.

Five other suspects in the bullion van robberies, four of whom are also policemen have been arrested and interdicted.

They are expected to be arraigned on Wednesday.

According to a police statement, there was an exchange of gunshots during an intelligence led raid and the two policemen, No.58284 Constable Reindolph Gyimah Ansah and No. 53549 Lance Corporal Stephen Kwaku Nyame who had earlier been arrested in connection with the bullion van robberies, were shot and were pronounced dead on arrival at the police hospital where they were rushed for treatment.

Some other suspects believed to have sustained gunshot wounds managed to escape from the scene, the police statement signed and issued on Tuesday night (March 8, 2022) by the Director-General of Public Affairs, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP), Mr Kwesi Ofori said.

Names revealed 

The police statement named the policemen arrested for their involvement as, No. 58370 Constable Affisu Yaro Ibrahim, No 58355 Constable Richard Boadu, No. 58525 Constable Rabiu Jambedu, No. 58586 Constable Albert Ofosu and suspect Razak Alhassan (a civilian).

On Monday March 7, 2022, the police announced that months of investigations have revealed that some two policemen were the brains behind some of the multiple robbery attacks on bullion vans in Ghana.

There have been a number of robbery attacks on bullion vans, especially in the Greater Accra Region recently.

The police described the development as a major breakthrough in the fight against bullion van robbery attacks.

It was explained police investigations were still ongoing and to help not to compromise the investigations, the names of the two suspects, together with other suspects linked to the robbery attacks were not immediately revealed.

It listed the robbery attacks investigated as including the attack on a bullion van near Kingsway, in February 2021 and in Baatsona, Spintex, in March 2021.

The third robbery attack investigated took place in Jamestown, Adedenkpo, in June 2021 and the recent attempted robbery at North Kaneshie Industrial Area, in February 2022.

It said preliminary investigations established the involvement of the two policemen among a number of other suspects.

Read also: 2 policemen fingered in bullion van robberies shot dead; 5 others arrested

Writer's email: enoch.frimpong@graphic.com.gh