Three persons, including a Cameroonian national, have been gunned down by a team of police officers from the Accra Regional Police Command during an attempt to rob a businessman at Opeibea, near the Kotoka International Airport in Accra.
The Cameroonian has been identified as Akika Christian-Robert while the other two suspects have been identified only as Alhassan and Alhaji.
The operation also led to the arrest of two other suspects, Abdul Latif, 47, and Prosper Kokou, 27, who are also said to be connected to the attempted robbery.
Alhassan is said to be the hitman who is contracted for murder operations by a businessman based in Kumasi who has been identified only as Hakeem, while Alhaji is said to trail victims and inform the gang.
The Police officers had laid ambush following intelligence of a plot by the gang to rob a businessman at a bank at Opeibea.
The police retrieved a Taurus Pistol loaded with 15 rounds of ammunition and 12 rounds of extra ammunition loaded in a magazine.
One police officer who sustained gunshot wounds is currently receiving treatment at the Police Hospital in Accra while the bodies of the deceased have also been taken to the Police Hospital morgue.
The gang is said to be behind a number of robbery incidents including an attack on forex bureau operator who was robbed of GH¢3 million in December 2020, and a number of murder cases under investigations by the police since 2020. They have since been on the police wanted list.
Intelligence
Briefing the Daily Graphic, the Acting Director-General of the Public Affairs Directorate of the Ghana Police Service, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Mr Kwesi Ofori said the police officers had laid ambush following the gathering of intelligence about a plan by the gang of five to rob a businessman at a bank at Opeibea.
When the police attempt to arrest the suspects, the Cameroonian, Christian-Robert, armed with the Taurus Pistol, attempted to shoot the police officers but he was gunned down before he could discharge his pistol.
Alhassan and Alhaji also attempted to escape amidst firing at the police officers. The police returned fire and in the process, the three were gunned down. They were pronounced dead on arrival at the Police Hospital, in Accra.
The suspects have been linked to other robberies and murders in Accra and Kumasi over the last year. Mr Ofori assured the public of the determination of the police to rid the streets, residential areas and highways throughout the country of robberies.
