By
Yussif Ibrahim/Jefferson Olarbi/Evans Dwomoh, GNA
Kumasi, July 18, GNA – The Ashanti Regional
Police Command is yet to identify the seven alleged robbers gunned down by the
police in a shootout at Poano, in the Amansie -West District on Tuesday.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Kwesi
Mensah Duku, the Regional Police Commander, who made this known at a media
briefing on the incident in Kumasi, said his outfit had launched a full-scale
investigation into the matter to establish the identities of the robbers.
He said a team of policemen from the Regional
Command, acting on intelligence, embarked on an operation to foil a robbery
attack in the Amansie West area, following a similar attack that claimed the
life of a police officer, Lance Corporal Daniel Tieku on July 12.
He explained that the deceased officer and
another colleague, Lance Corporal Eric Nsiah, who were on an operational duty
in the area were on board a sprinter bus with registration number AC 644-15,
together with other passengers, when eight armed men attacked the bus.
DCOP Duku said the robbers, who were dressed
like military men and armed with AK 47 riffles, attacked the bus at a spot
between Ayirebikrom and Agoroyesum.
“In the process, the two policemen as well as
the driver, Silas Kwame Kusi and other passengers sustained serious gunshot
wounds and were rushed to the St. Martins Hospital at Agoroyesum”, he stated.
He said they were treated and discharged but
Lance Corporal Tieku died on admission the next day.
According to the Regional Commander, the police
on July 17, as part of effort to improve security, deployed men to the area
between Anwia-Nkwanta and Manso–Nkwanta.
He said on reaching Poano, a Toyota Corolla
with registration number BA 294-15 and an unregistered motorbike appeared
driving towards Manso-Nkwanta and were signalled to stop but they ignored and
started firing at the police.
The police, he stated, also returned fire and
the seven unknown suspected robbers, whose names were yet to be ascertained
died in the exchange.
DCOP Duku said the Toyota Corolla, the
motorbike, together with two pump action guns, one AK 47 assault rifle, two
locally-made pistols and four mobile phones were retrieved and brought to the
Regional Command as exhibits.
He said the bodies of the suspected robbers
had been deposited at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital Morgue for
identification and autopsy.
In a related development, the Municipal Chief
Executive for Asokore Mampong, Mr. Alidu Seidu has called on the police to
conduct an in-depth investigation into the case following claims by families of
three of the alleged deceased robbers that, their relatives were not armed
robbers.
Mr. Seidu, speaking to newsmen later,
underscored the need to get to the bottom of the matter to ascertain the
innocence or otherwise of the three deceased suspects.
He urged the family and youth in the community
to remain calm, saying that, he would keenly follow the case until it is
brought to its logical conclusion.
GNA