Robbery: Nomadic herdsman arrested after gun battle with police
A nomadic herdsman has been arrested and aiding investigations after a botched armed robbery attempt in the Savannah Region.
Seidu Salifu, 25, in the company of three other assailants opened fire on a Mercedes Benz Distribution Van with registration number GX 5225- 17 at about 1:30 pm on January 17, 2020.
The van was loaded with assorted soft drinks with two salespeople on board in addition to a police officer, Lance Corporal Edmond Kyei Baffour, who was escorting the vehicle.
A police sitrep cited by theghanareport.com explained that on reaching a section of the road between Banda Nkwanta and Nouryiri community, three masked armed men emerged from the bush and started firing in an attempt to rob the said distribution van.
The police officer on board the van returned fire and hit the right ankle of Salifu. The suspect was then arrested by the police but his accomplices managed to escape.
Found on him were one locally manufactured single barrel shotgun, one live cartridge, a face mask, one Techno mobile phone and cash of GHC 130.
He has been admitted to the Bole District Hospital as investigations proceed.
Robberies in the region are rife with a significant number of the suspects being nomadic herdsmen.
On March 15, 2019, three robbers were picked up by cops for allegedly attacking market women in Kpandai.
Similarly, two persons suspected to be armed robbers were also arrested by the police at Sawla in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District in September 2019.
In October 2019, the Police in Salaga in the East Gonja district also busted two suspected armed robbers with an AK47 assault rifle and shotguns.