Armed robbers in the Central Region have now targeted students of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) following the re-opening of the University.
Knowing the students are coming back with large sums of money to pay their academic fees and residential fees, the robbers in the early hours of Thursday, attacked some students at Amamoma, a community within the University and made away with mobile phones and an undisclosed amount of money.
According to the Central Region Crime Officer, Supt. Edward Tabiri, the crooks attacked five students residing at Amamoma at about 1.00 am on Thursday, brutalised them and bolted away with their monies and mobile phones. Supt. Tabiri told The Chronicle on Friday that, the robbers were wielding locally manufactured pistols and clubs to carry out their activities.
He added that three students were seriously injured and that two have since been discharged after receiving medical treatment at the Central Regional Hospital while the other, who was severely injured on the knee, was still receiving medical attention at the same hospital.
“The robbers, who were holding locally manufactured pistols, were liberal but those with clubs were so wicked that they attacked their victims,” he said, explaining that the thieves have turned their attention to the students because they have just returned from their various homes with money. He went on to explain that the crooks normally used cement blocks to open doors in a bid to hide fingerprint clues from Police detection.
The Regional Crime Officer said no arrests have been made so far and the Police were still searching for the culprits. About two years ago, students of the UCC were subjected to continuous stabbing, rape and mobile phone snatching that drew hue and cry from the students’ body, resulting in the establishment of a Police station on the campus.
Last year, these criminals attacked petrol and gas filling stations and an orphanage as well as wealthy individuals in the Region and made away with millions of cedis.
