Police place GH₵5,000 bounty on killers of Ecobank Manager
Four armed robbers, armed to the teeth with pump action guns and pistols, shot dead the Abrepo branch manager of Ecobank, Mr Richard Sallah in Kumasi in the early hours of Friday.
But in a swift move to apprehend the killers and bring them to book, the Ashanti Regional Police Command has placed a GH₵5,000 bounty on their heads.
Using a car jack, cement blocks and other strong metal cutters, they broke into the residence of the banker at Ahenema Kokoben near Santase in Kumasi and made away with wedding rings, a television set, laptops and unspecified cash.
Mr Sallah who is also a pastor at the Lighthouse Chapel International, and his family were attacked around 2.30 am. The robbers managed to enter the house by using car jacks to open the burglar proofs as well as concrete blocks to open the doors and were able to cut the fence wire which was not connected to electricity.
None of the 39 year-old bankers’ family members including his wife, three children and mother-in-law who were in the house at the time of the incident was attacked.
SECOND ATTACK
The robbers also attacked and robbed a nearby house and took away a laptop computer, cellular phones and unspecified amount.
According to the victim, Mr Louis Owusu, a teacher, they broke into his house threatening that if he did not give them money they would end his life.
Police Commander
According to the Deputy Ashanti Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Osei Ampofo-Duku, initial analysis by the police indicated armed robbery.
He said the police wold not relent in its efforts at protecting life and property and assured the family that a crack team of investigators were already working on the case to apprehend the suspects.
He urged residents in such areas to try and form Community Watchdog Committees and assured them of the readiness of the police to train them to assist in providing security for their area.
Third Attack
In another development, Mr Richmond Darfah Mensah, a resident of Aboaso Atasemanso, not very far from where the pastor was killed, was also attacked by armed robbers.
The robbers fired a gun at his head but missed and the bullet graced the back of head. It happened around 10pm on Thursday.
The three robbers who wielded pistols, had laid ambush and jumped the wall into his house just as he entered and parked his car.
Mr Darfah Mensah said the robbers demanded GH₵1,500 and when he could not, they shot at him from the back but the bullet graced his head. He fell down and feigned death so they fled. He was later treated at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.
