Six armed robbers flown to Accra

Kumasi, July 25, GNA - Six persons alleged to be armed robbers arrested by the security agencies in Kumasi were on Sunday morning flown to Accra in a military helicopter for further interrogation.

They were Sulemana Ibrahim, Anthony Abanyinwea, Baba Yakubu alias Oborobo, Nsobila Anaba alias Agoro, Moro Ibrahim alias Agya and Nzia Ibrahim. One Razak Akokon is on the run and the Police have mounted a search for him.

The Police retrieved the butt of a gun and a blue-black beret hidden in a locally manufactured loudspeaker box from the room of Yakubu during a search. Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Kojo Yankah, briefed newsmen, before the alleged robbers were put on board the helicopter at the Fourth Battalion of Infantry Old Parade Grounds.

He said public response to the five million cedis reward offered for those who provide information leading to the arrest of those who raided the Antoakrom Rural Bank (ARB) has been positive. He explained that more useful information have been coming in from the public and are being processed.

The Regional Minister in an answer to a question, said, "in as much as I would not want to pass a judgement on the courts, the system is not helping us much".

Mr Yaw Adu-Gyimah, Ashanti Regional Police Commander, said some of those arrested had been involved in previous armed robbery cases and were put in court only to be granted bail to go back to their old business.

He cited the case of Abanyinwea, who about three months ago together with some others hijacked a KIA truck bound for Cote D'Ivoire loaded with engines and motor bikes on the Sunyani road and was arrested but granted court bail. Brigadier Henry K. Anyidoho, Two Brigade Commander, said more soldiers are going to be deployed in the Ashanti region to smash the armed robbery gangs.

He said armoured vehicles were being brought down from Sunyani to support the exercise and that a military helicopter to mount air surveillance is already in Kumasi. The Brigade Commander observed that public co-operation and support by way of information is crucial to the success of the exercise to flush out the armed robbers and other criminals in the society.

Two persons arrested by the Military at dawn on Sunday at Sofoline, in Kumasi, for using a false car "number plate" on an unregistered Toyota Corolla, were also put on board the helicopter.

They were Osei Bonsu, a car dealer in Accra and Kofi Mensah, cane basket weaver in Accra. Both are from Mpasatia in the Atwima District. The soldiers found 14.5 million cedis in the car during a search.