Police foil new Year Eve's robbery attack; two armed suspects killed during shootout
The Ashanti South Regional Police Command on New Year's Eve foiled a planned robbery operation in the Manso area of the Ashanti Region and ended up killing two armed suspects in a shootout.
After receiving intelligence that a gang of armed robbers had converged in a bush along the Antoakrom–Manso Nkwanta stretch, allegedly preparing to attack commuters, the police moved in swiftly to foil the operation.
The police in a press statement, indicated that they encountered four armed suspects.
Upon sighting the police, the suspects reportedly opened fire and attempted to flee into the bush. Police returned fire in self-defence.
During the exchange, two suspects, later identified as Usmaro Mohammed and Yaw Frimpong, also known as Nana Yaw, sustained gunshot injuries. Two other suspects escaped into the bush.
A search at the scene led to the recovery of one AK-47 rifle loaded with 15 rounds of ammunition, one pump-action gun loaded with four BB cartridges, four spent cartridges, and a black bag containing 16 live cartridges. Police also impounded a Toyota Voxy vehicle, believed to have been used by the suspects in their criminal activities.
The police said the suspects are linked to several robbery incidents in Manso and Obuasi, including the Mpohor gold robbery, the Nyinahini highway robbery, and a cocoa shed robbery at Sefwi.
Read also: Ashanti: Police kill 3 suspected robbers during shootout at Anwiankwanta on Christmas Eve
Preliminary investigations further indicate that the suspects operated with accomplices based in Mankranso, Tamale, and Berekum, whose identities have been withheld and who remain at large.
The injured suspects were rushed to the Bekwai Municipal Hospital, where they were pronounced dead on arrival.
Meanwhile, police investigations are ongoing to arrest the remaining accomplices and to establish the ownership of the impounded vehicle.
