Upper West Region Under Siege By Suspected Robbers; 3 Lynched By Mob

Within the last ten days the Upper West Region has been besieged by suspected armed robbers, heightening vigilance of residents and police.

Three suspected armed robbers were recently beaten to a pulp by a mob and later died at the Nadowli Hospital.

In one of the incidents, the police engaged armed robbers in a shootout, resulting in the death of one gunman, and the arrest of four who had been hiding in a bush after succumbing to superior police fire power.

Deputy Upper West Region police commander, ACP Edward Oduro Kwarteng, disclosed these to the media in Wa on Thursday.

ACP Edward Oduro Kwarteng said the first major incident took place at the Sisters Hostel of the Wa campus of the University for Development Sudies (UDS) where Onyime Kwaku and Harry Amankwa were violently attacked by robbers.

Police say 33-year-old Ibrahim Adams and an accomplice who is now at large attacked the two students at the UDS campus.

Ibrahim Adam and his accomplice, according to police, wearing facemasks and armed with a cutlass and shotgun, attacked the students and attempted to rob them of their laptops, mobile phones, and other belongings.

An investigation revealed that the two armed robbers entered the students’ room with the weapons and attacked Mr. Amankwa with a cutlass, injuring his right shoulder, head, and right wrist.

Harry Amankwa, however, managed to overpower his attacker and took the cutlass from him after which he slashed the robber on his left elbow.

The suspect and his accomplice sensed danger and fled the scene, police say.

Police say Harry Amankwa was rushed to hospital where he met the suspect who had also come to the same hospital for treatment.

A complainant identified the suspect and he was subsequently arrested. More soon.

A search conducted at the house of the suspect by the police found blood stained pullover, a face mask and a pair of sneakers and also with blood stains in his rooms.

The second incident happened at Nator Banori. The complainant, 45 year Dienuma Kwaku at about 1:30am last Sunday heard an usual noise in his room. He woke up and saw three people who are now deceased, Puuri and 2 other people who are of Fulani extraction with two single barrel shotguns and cutlasses busily searching the complainant’s personal effects.

The third incident, ACP Edward Oduro Kwarteng said took place at the Ullo-Nabre road where police at Han had information that some unidentified armed men had blocked the road and were allegedly robbing users. Two police men were quickly dispatched to the scene on a motorbike. There were ordered by the suspect by 5 unidentified to stop and put off the engine and lie on the ground which they did.

‘‘As soon as they put off the engine, one of the suspects walked towards them with a dagger whilst the remaining 4 were standing by with cutlasses. When the sergeant realized that their lives were in danger, he fired the suspect walking towards them killing him instantly and the rest run in to the bush,’’ he stated.

Four of the suspects were later arrested. There Hassan Areiba, 28, Christopher Godwin, 26, Mahmud Jallo, 40 and Walendi Bari, 38, who attempted to slice his throat with a sharp knife after he was apprehended by the police.

The Wa municipality was also not spared. The incident took place at Jonga- Sambo road were the police patrol had information that some armed men had blocked the road and were harassing road users. The team proceeded to the scene and met one Abdul Moomm Abubakar emerging from the nearby bush with a single barrel gun. The suspect on seeing the police he attempted to shoot at them but the police were quicker and shot him first on the thigh there by disarming him, he was sent to the upper west regional hospital where he is currently receiving treatment.

The Upper West police command called on the public to come forth with information about criminals in their communities to enable them get arrested and prosecuted before the law court.

By: Myjoyonline.com