The Anti-Armed Robbery squad deployed to the Eastern region by the Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr. George Akuffo Dampare have been attacked by highway robbers on Akyem Ettukrom to Bunso road in the Eastern region.
The robbers allegedly wielding AK47 were on the road Tuesday, August 17, 2021, at dawn to rob commuters.
The robbers upon seeing the Police Bus transporting the personnel to their Operational areas opened fire on the bus which the police quickly retaliated.
The gunfire exchange lasted for few minutes but the robbers fled into the bush after some sustained injuries.
The Police personnel combed the area and mounted a search in the bush and nearby houses and some health facilities but could not find the suspects.
Police retrieved five spent shells of AK 47 rifle at the scene.
The scene was the exact area two highway robbers -Haruna Amadu, 25, and Joseph Nyira, 25 were arrested on June 5, 2021 after killing a trader in a robbery attack on the road with their accomplices at large.
The Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr.George Akuffo Dampare has deployed 126 troops of the special Anti-Armed Robbery Squad (AARS) to the Eastern to clamp down rampant robbery activities in the region.
The AARS special force augments the capacity and capabilities of the Eastern Regional command to deal with the menace.
The contingent is led by Commissioner of Police (COP) Mr Christian Tetteh Yohonu, and assisted by the Director-General of Operations, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Mr Mohammed Fuseini Suraji.
The Eastern Region has recorded high cases of highway robbery this year leading to fatalities and loss of monies, and personal effects.
A heart-wrenching of these attacks was the Ambulance driver, Abraham Tetteh, shot dead while transporting patient from Yilo Krobo to Eastern Regional Hospital at dawn in February this year.
Recently on August 14, 2021, armed robbers attacked and robbed Frimps fuel filling station at Asenema in Okere District.
On Friday, August 13, 2021 highway robbers also attacked passengers onboard a Sprinter Bus from Nkawkaw en route to Donkorkrom in Afram Plains North District in the Eastern Region at about 7:00 pm.
A female passenger sustained gunshot wounds during the robbery which occurred at the Agyata stretch of Ekye Amanfrom to Maame Krobo road.
Earlier on Monday, August 9, 2021, two pastors of The Church of Pentecost as well as other commuters were robbed by a gang of highway robbers on the Asamankese to Topease road in West Akyem Municipality at about 9:30 pm.
The two Pastors were; Pastor Eliezer Yaw Arkoh-Larbi and Victor Asante Ayim. They were in the company of an elder and a deacon.
