The Tema Regional Police Command has foiled an attempted armed robbery at Afienya-Mataheko, resulting in the death of four suspected robbers following a gun battle with police.
Addressing a press briefing on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, the Head of Public Affairs of the Command, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Dede Dzakpasu, said the operation formed part of sustained efforts to dismantle a notorious robbery gang believed to have operated in Tema and its surrounding areas for several years.
She disclosed that on December 27, 2025, police received intelligence that a group of ex-convicts was planning to carry out armed robbery attacks within the metropolis. Based on the information, officers were deployed to the area and placed under surveillance.
ASP Dzakpasu said in the early hours of December 29, at about 1:00 a.m., four suspects were spotted attempting to break into a residential property at Afienya-Mataheko. According to her, the suspects opened fire upon detecting the presence of police, prompting officers to return fire.
Three of the suspects, identified as Kwabena Azuwebi, also known as Lastman; Yaro Bawku; and Faisal, were gunned down and rushed to the Police Hospital but were pronounced dead on arrival.
She added that the fourth suspect, Kassim Hussein, initially escaped despite sustaining gunshot wounds but was later arrested. He subsequently died while receiving medical treatment.
ASP Dzakpasu noted that all four deceased suspects were on the police wanted list and had been linked to several robbery cases within the region.
“It would be recalled that one of the suspects, Kwabena Azuwebi alias Lastman, was recently granted bail by a court in a robbery case after a long period on remand,” she said.
Police retrieved an AK-47 rifle, a Taurus pistol loaded with six rounds of ammunition, two cutlasses, and two Royal motorbikes, one unregistered and the other bearing registration number M-25-GT-4243, believed to have been used by the suspects.
ASP Dzakpasu said all exhibits have been retained for further investigations, while the bodies of the deceased suspects have been deposited at the Police Hospital Mortuary pending autopsy.
She added that investigations are ongoing to identify possible accomplices and establish links to other criminal activities.