One killed in bullion van attack

Seven suspected armed robbers attacked a bullion van belonging to the Agate Mabot Security Company Limited last Friday, killing the cashier on the spot and injuring the driver and two policemen on board the vehicle.

The robbers made away with two metal boxes, said to contain unspecified cash meant for distribution to banks around Kumasi, and two AK47 rifles belonging to the police in the broad daylight act.

The armed men, four of them in masks, attacked the van — with registration number GE 3978-20 — near Manso Mem in the Amansie West District of the Ashanti Region.

Amid indiscriminate shooting, the robbers left the cashier, identified only as Attakorah, 35, dead from gunshot wounds.

The armed men also seized the two policemen’s AK47 rifles loaded with 30 rounds of ammunition each.

Confirmation

Confirming the incident to the Daily Graphic, the Ashanti Regional Police Public Relations Officer (PRO), Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Godwin Ahianyo, said the occupants of the vehicle, including the two police escorts, were returning from Manso Asamang where they collected some money for onward deposit at the bank when they were ambushed.

He said the robbers shot indiscriminately at the van when it got to a junction on the Manso Mem road.

In the process, he said, the cashier was killed, while the other occupants received gunshot wounds, leaving the driver and Corporal Felix Agyei Agyemang in serious condition.

The other police escort was named as Sgt Enock Kwame Teye.

According to ASP Ahianyo, the police retrieved five BB and 12 AK empty shells from the scene.

The bullet-riddled van has since been towed away from the scene.

Treatment

The regional police PRO said the injured were first taken to the St Martin Catholic Hospital at Agroyesum where Sergeant Teye was treated and discharged.

He said Boasiako and Cpl. Agyemang were given first aid before being referred to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi.

ASP Ahianyo said the police had picked up some leads and were frantically following up on them to apprehend the perpetrators.