Police arrest suspected armed robbers

Sunyani, Oct. 5, GNA - Police in Sunyani at the weekend arrested two suspected armed robbers who had allegedly planned to attack passengers on board an O.A. Transport bus travelling from Sunyani to Accra.

The suspects, Patrick Bonsu, 35, an Accra-based watchman and Kwabena Barnie, 27, a surveyor of Jojafra Construction Company in Sunyani were arrested following a tip off by a female passenger on the bus.

They have been placed in police custody pending investigations. Chief Superintendent Osei Asibey Ahenkan, Sunyani Municipal Police Commander, told the Ghana News Agency on Monday that the female passenger, (name withheld) rang to inform the Police about the suspected robbers.

He said the passenger became suspicious when she detected that one of the suspects, Bonsu, possessed a locally made pistol and some pellets on board the bus.

The Police Commander said armed with the tip-off police personnel rushed to the scene and arrested the suspects. He said during interrogation Bonsu admitted ownership of the pistol but said he used it to protect himself and not for robbery.

Chief Superintendent Ahenkan said the police retrieved the pistol and the pellets.

Later in an interview with GNA Mr Douglas Akrofi, Brong Ahafo Regional Police Commander urged transport union drivers to always look out for suspicious characters that board their vehicles and report to the police.

He said the Police Service had set up a stand-by team that would respond rapidly to such calls and asked all well-meaning Ghanaians to alert the Regional Police Information Room in Sunyani with any information on the telephone numbers 061-27159 and 061-27081. Mr Akrofi commended the lady passenger for the action she took leading to the arrest of the two suspects and advised members of the public to exhibit such vigilance to help minimise armed robberies.