The Ashanti Regional Police Command has foiled a planned armed robbery after receiving intelligence that a group of robbers had positioned themselves in a bush along the Antoakrom–Manso Nkwanta road to attack commuters.
Police said that upon receiving the intelligence on December 31, a rapid response team was immediately deployed to the area.
On arrival, officers encountered four armed suspects.
When the suspects spotted the police, they opened fire and attempted to escape.
The police returned fire, during which two suspects, identified as Usmaro Mohammed and Yaw Frimpong, also known as Nana Yaw were shot.
The injured suspects were taken to the Bekwai Municipal Hospital, where they were pronounced dead on arrival.
The remaining two suspects fled into the bush and are currently on the run.
A search at the scene led to the recovery of an AK-47 rifle loaded with 15 rounds of ammunition, a pump-action gun with four BB cartridges, four spent cartridges, and a black bag containing 16 live cartridges.
Police also impounded a Toyota Voxy vehicle believed to have been used by the suspects.
In a Facebook post, the Police Command stated that the suspects are believed to be linked to several robberies in Manso and Obuasi, including the Mpohor gold robbery, the Nyinahini highway robbery, and a cocoa shed robbery in Sefwi.
Preliminary investigations suggest the group had accomplices in Mankranso, Tamale, and Brekum, who are still at large.
Police say investigations are ongoing to arrest the remaining suspects and to establish the ownership of the seized vehicle.
