Assoc. of Armed Robbers Members Are A “Bunch Of Useless Criminals” – Kweku Baako

The Editor-in-Chief of the New Crusading Guide, Mr Abdul Malik Kweku Baako, has described members of an armed robbery gang, which calls itself ‘Armed Robbers Association of Ghana (ARA)’, as “a bunch of useless criminals”.

Mr Baako slammed the modus operandi of the association, which had given the residents of Agape in Accra a deadline of December 30, 2013 to pay not less than GH¢500 per tenant in each household to avoid being robbed.

The association posted notices on their walls, gates, electricity poles and other places, directing them to pay the said amount through MTN mobile money.

The notice, which was issued by the President of the association, had the MTN number 0544133436 as the number to which the residents were to pay the money.

After paying the amount, the residents were also expected to call the same number to inform the association that the money had been paid and also indicate their house numbers so that they could be pruned off a list of places to be robbed.

Some residents of Agape, however, made a report to the Anyaa and Odorkor Police, which sent officers to the ground and intensified their patrols.

Police investigations soon led to the arrest of Samiru Salifu, who is suspected to be the kingpin of the association.

Salifu who had been on the police wanted list for five years, was picked up from his hideout at Ablekuma Fan Milk, near Agape, on Thursday, January 2, 2014, after exchanging gunshots with the police.

He was arrested from his hideout at Ablekuma Fan Milk, near Agape, on Thursday, January 2, 2014 on a tip-off.

Speaking Wednesday on Accra-based Peace FM, Mr Baako said it was foolish for the robbers to have announced their intention to rob ahead of time and then go ahead to advertise a channel of funding.

He said the robbers should have known that such a move would prompt the security agencies to carry out intelligence gathering in the area until they (the robbers) were arrested.

Mr Baako said: “If serious armed robbers form an association, the mode of operation won’t be like this.”

“I’m not surprised that you say they’ve been arrested,” he added.