Accra, Ghana//-Four more policemen and one civilian have been arrested for their involvement in the bullion van robberies that rocked Ghana last year.
According to the Police, further investigations they had conducted led to the five’s arrest.
They are Constable Affisu Yaro Ibrahim, Constable Richard Boadu, Constable Rabiu Jambedu, Constable Albert Ofosu and suspect, Razak Alhassan, a civilian.
The police officers involved have been interdicted, and all five will be arraigned on Wednesday, March 9.
Meanwhile, the two police officers who had been arrested earlier in the ongoing investigations have died.
During a raid at Borteyman in Ashaiman to apprehend more suspects, there was an exchange of gunshots and the two police officers, Constable Reindolph Gyimah Ansah and Corporal Stephen Kwaku Nyame, were shot and were pronounced dead on arrival at the Police Hospital where they were rushed to.
Some other suspects believed to have sustained gunshot wounds managed to escape.
The Police are thus counting on the cooperation of all public and private health facilities within the Accra-Tema area to report to the Police if they find any persons with gunshot wounds.
The Police has further assured Ghanaians “of our determination to continue to take the fight to criminals to ensure the safety and security of all persons. “
We urge anyone with relevant information to contact the nearest police station,” the Police added in their statement.
Background
The attacks on bullion vans became rampant in 2021, with many injuries and deaths recorded.
As a result of the rampancy, soldiers were tasked to escort bullion vans to reduce the attacks.
Below is a breakdown of bullion attacks recorded in the first half of the year 2021;
January
- On January 18, some highway robbers numbering about 10, attacked a bullion van travelling on a section of the Adansi Fomena road in the Ashanti Region and an amount of ¢500,000 was stolen.
- Sources indicate that the van, with registration number GT 543-19, was attacked around 10:30 AM on the Adansi Fomena Road.
- The driver of the vehicle survived while the police officer escorting the van was killed. His AK47 assault rifle was stolen.
March
- In broad day light on March 1, a bullion van belonging to a popular bank was robbed on the Spintex Road at Baatsona near the Danpong Hospital by some armed men numbering about 4 according to eyewitnesses.
- Sources say that the incident happened around 3:30 PM.
- Around the said time, a Black Toyota Camry overtook the van and blocked its way. An occupant of the Camry immediately came down and gave a warning shot into the air.
- The driver of the bullion van and one official from the bank escaped while the escorting police officer was assaulted by the robbers.
- The robbers broke into the van and escaped with the money.
June
- The month of June also recorded two bullion van attacks in a span of 3 days.
- The first incident happened on June 14. A bullion van was attacked at Adedenkpo near James Town in Accra.
- A young police officer escorting the van and a woman were killed. The driver of the vehicle sustained serious injuries and the robbers bolted with the money.
- The second attack happened on June 17. Passengers in a bullion van with registration number GN 6956- 17 were attacked on the Winneba-Accra highway.
- The unknown assailants shot at the van at the Okyereko and Dominase portion of the Winneba-Accra stretch.
- Aside the driver, the van was occupied by two policemen with an amount of ¢550,000 on board.
- Fortunately for them, they escaped the gunshots and were rescued by the Winneba Divisional Police who escorted them back to Accra.
The robberies continued in October 2021 in Tarkwa in the Western Region. Two armed men robbed the content of the bullion van amidst sporadic shooting.
According to the state-owned newspaper, Daily Graphic, over ¢107,000 being carried on the bullion van was robbed in front of a supermarket in the centre of town.
There were no casualties as the robbers reportedly took the money without resistance.
Myjoyonline