Robbers kill cop; free 7 prisoners

Six armed men, yesterday at dawn, reportedly raided the Kwabenya District Police Station in Accra, freeing seven of their colleagues who were being held in cells.

The gang was said to have killed a police inspector in the process.

The slain officer has been identified as Chief Inspector Emmanuel Ashilevi, station officer of the Atomic Hills police post, who was said to be on supervision duties at the station (where the reported heinous crime occurred).

The escapee detainees have been identified as Dickson Ofori, 24, who was on remand for robbery; Chibuzor Akwabu, 34, a Nigerian also on remand for robbery; Edem Rockson, 32, on remand for stealing; Emmanuel Kotey, 21; Prince Osei, 27, arrested together with Kofi Darko, 21, for possession of firearms without lawful authority and Atta Kwadwo, 20, nabbed for robbery.

A police source at the Kwabenya Police Station told DAILY GUIDE that on Sunday at about 1:30 am, a man suspected to be a Nigerian came to the station and approached the Counter Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) who was then sitting with Inspector Emmanuel Ashilevi, that he wanted to lodge a complaint.

Suddenly, he reportedly left with an excuse that he was going to fetch something from his car.

On his return, the man was said to be accompanied by five other men and shot Inspector Emmanuel Ashilevi, who was then sitting in the charge office, and the gangsters commanded the Counter NCO to open the cells.

For fear of being shot, the Counter NCO (name withheld) opened the cells and seven of the inmates escaped.

Inspector Ashilevi was rushed to the Police Hospital for treatment and was later referred to the 37 Military Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The Accra Regional Police Command has therefore launched a manhunt for the seven suspects who broke jail, together with the armed men who facilitated their escape.



Inspector General of Police David Asante-Apeatu, accompanied by the Director General in-charge of Operations, COP Dr George Akuffu Dampare, the Director General in-Charge of the Criminal Investigation Department, DCOP Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo Dankwah and the Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP George Mensah, visited the police station and Ashongman where the slain officer lived, to commiserate with the bereaved family.

ACP David Eklu, Director of Public Affairs, told DAILY GUIDE that the police administration would revise its strategies to ensure that this dastardly act does not occur again.