DCOP KWASI MENSAH-DUKU Ashanti Regional Police Commander
Ashanti Regional Police Command has stressed its determination to investigate the killing of the seven suspected robbers by the police at Manso Nkwanta on Monday.
According to the Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP ) Kwasi Duku, no stone would be left unturned to establish the veracity as to whether they were suspected robbers or not.
This followed a reaction from the Municipal Chief Executive of Asokore Mampong, Alidu Seidu that three of the deceased were residents of the municipality and had no trace of any robbery cases.
Mr Alidu challenged the police yesterday at a press briefing on the incident, to do all they could to establish the truth as he insisted that they were not suspected robbers.
It has also emerged that all the seven men gunned down as armed robbers were known members of the national security and delta force in Kumasi.
The deceased, residents of Asokore Mampong have been identified as Hannan Hassan, Bashiru and Musah Seidu.
DCOP DUKU indicated that the police had information that some suspected robbers were attacking a mining site at Manso Nkwanta, in the Amansie West District of Ashanti.
He said policemen who were deployed to the area spotted a Toyota Corolla, with registration number BA 294-15, heading toward Poano which was signalled to stop but the occupants refused and started firing at the police who returned the fire.
The shootout came barely a week after eight suspected robbers engaged the police in a crossfire resulting in the killing of one of the police and injury to another.
Bodies of the deceased had been deposited at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi.
There was jubilation among the residents of Manso Nkwanta following the killing of the seven suspected robbers as they commended the police, saying they were afraid to travel these days.
Eight gun-wielding robbers had engaged the police in a shootout at Ayirebikrom, near Manso-Nkwanta in the Amansie West District.
The robbers, armed with AK 47 assault rifles had attacked a Sprinter Benz bus with passengers.
Lance Corporal Daniel Teiku was killed on the spot, while his colleague, Lance Corporal Eric Nsiah, received gunshot wounds as well as four passengers.
All were treated and discharged at the Saint Martin’s Hospital at Agroyesum.
The Sprinter Benz bus, AC 644-15, from Kumpese junction in the Amansie West District was heading towards Kumasi when the eight suspects who were wielding the AK assault rifles attacked the passengers on board.
The two policemen were shot and their AK 47 rifles seized from them with the deceased police officer sustaining gunshot wounds in the abdomen.
Police upon intelligence reports proceeded to Dome-Beposo, a village near Manso-Nkwanta where four AK 47 rifles including those seized from the two policemen by the robbers were retrieved.
Other weapons and items retrieved were a G3 and Short Machine guns (SMG), used by the military, a pump action gun, seven boxes of ammunition, 88 pieces of AK 47 ammunition and some clothes.
In a related development the Acting Chief of Zongo, Chief Ahmed Rufai, in a statement issued to the media, said the victims were well educated and known in the Zongo community.
He has, therefore, appealed to the youth to remain “calm and peaceful in this trying moment as we seek guidance and lawful means to contain the calamity.”
Chief Rufai stated “everyone should remain calm and refrain from any action that will escalate the tension and grief that has befallen our community.”
FROM KINGSLEY E.HOPE, KUMASI
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