Armed robber injured as gang exchanges fire with police

An armed robber was injured at dawn on Wednesday when a gang exchanged fire with a police patrol team at Darkuman in Accra, according to a senior police officer.

Mr Yaw Adu-Gyimah, Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of operations, told reporters the victim, Emmanuel Kofi Attiogbe, a 20-year-old carpenter, was one of three armed robbers who were in a Lada taxicab.

The other two escaped, leaving behind the taxi and Attiogbe, who was hit in the leg. He is on admission at the Police Hospital and the taxicab has been impounded and kept at the Police Striking Force.

A new Toyota Tundra vehicle used by the Striking Force was hit in the right front door by a bullet from the robbers.

Mr Adu-Gyimah said a resident of Darkuman called the police at about 0330 hours to report the suspicious movement of the taxicab. The police traced the taxi, which refused to stop when ordered to do so.

According to Mr Adu-Gyimah, as the police pursued and attempted to overtake the taxi the robbers fired at them. The police returned fire and hit Attiogbe in the leg.

Mr Adu-Gyimah said no weapons were found in the taxi. He advised motorists, especially those who drive late at night and the early hours of the morning, to stop when asked to do so by the police.

Mr Adu-Gyimah said those who refuse to stop raise suspicions and this could result in "an unpleasant reaction" from the police.