Tightened security at KNUST following rampant robbery attacks
Authorities of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) have beefed up security on campus with intermittent snap checks following a robbery on nine graduate students last Wednesday.
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A number of unidentified men reportedly invaded the campus last Wednesday evening pretending to be part of the Business Administration students billed to write exams.
Positioning themselves at vantage points, the robbers targeted some of the cars that had been parked at obscure places, broke into them and made away with valuables including laptops and iPhones.
The act
The University Relations Officer, Vincent A. Ankamah Lomotey, told Daily Graphic ‘even though we provided adequate security these guys managed to outsmart us.’
He said because of the huge numbers of the Administration students some decided to move their cars off the normal parking place to obscure areas, which the robbers took advantage of.
‘That notwithstanding, we still need to do a lot more as an institution to protect lives and property of these students; But it is important the students are conscious of their personal security to reduce some of these incidence.
Subsequently, the university has instructed that students leave their valuables with the heads of department or better still avoid bringing such valuables including laptops and Iphones to exams centres.
Victim
One of the victims who gave his name only as Ice T, a private businessman said he had gone for a loan of GHc 20,000 to transact a business the following day but it was taken by the robbers.
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Ice T, who initially was reluctant to grant this reporter an interview only agreed to do so on grounds that his picture would not be taken and his voice not recorded.
Giving detail of the chilling event, he wondered how the robbers were able to detect that he had hidden the money under the carpet of his front seat, a practice he had cultivated over the years.
He believed the robbers may have trailed him after withdrawing the cash to the campus to rob him.
Students
Apart from few ladies who reside at hostels outside campus, students generally believe security was good but want it to be tightened.
The students interviewed including a Level 300 economic students, Richard Quaye, said the various porters at the halls of residence would have to device ways of identifying non-students from invading the place.
The police
The KNUST Police Commander, ASP Ransford Nsiah, told Daily Graphic the incident was a theft case and not a robbery because it did not involve the use of any dangerous weapon such as gun.
He said five out of the nine students who were robbed reported the incident to the police on the same evening and their statements taken.
The police commander said, apparently the robbers who took advantage of the heavy rainstorm, entered the campus in a car pretending to be one of the exams students.
‘So while the exams were on-going and people running for cover during the storm, they clandestinely had their smooth operation.’
He said the robbers were spotted on their way out by the university security and after a hot chase they managed to escape.
ASP Nsiah said the bags containing the laptops were later found during a night patrol at Asawase, a suburb of Kumasi.
He said police are still conducting investigation to apprehend the perpetrators.
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