A hardened robber has reportedly been shot dead following a fierce gun battle between some hoodlums and the police in the Ashanti Region over the weekend, the police had reported.
Ten other suspected robbers have been apprehended, one of whom is currently receiving treatment from a gunshot wound at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi.
Another suspect, who has been identified by the police as Yahaya Nuhu, managed to escape arrest and is being pursued by the police.
The suspects, who are said to be heavily armed with offensive weapons and modern guns, have been engaging in residential robberies in several communities in the Ashanti Region.
The hoodlums, who operate as a group, sometimes rape their female victims, seize vehicles, huge sums of money and other valuables from their hapless victims at gun point.
Three key members of the robbery gang, including Kwadwo Kyei Baffour, 39, Joseph Oppong, alias Joe, 30, Bernard Owusu Ansah, alias Hot Boy, 27, were earlier arrested by the police.
The remaining suspects including Kwadwo Konadu, 28, James Asare Boateng, 26, Emmanuel Asiedu, 27, Maxwell Gyimah, 30, were nabbed later on via police intelligence operation.
Other suspects, Kelvin Adomako, alias Chemicals, 29, was arrested at Ejisu Hwereso and Daniel Dwumor, 46, was nabbed at Bantama for allegedly providing intelligence to facilitate robbery operation at Appiadu near Kumasi.
DSP Godwin Ahianyo of the Public Affairs Unit of the Ashanti Regional Police Command, said the suspects have been terrorising the people of Abuakwa, Tanoso, Apatrapa, Dechembuoso, Appiadu and surrounding areas.
“Investigations revealed that the suspects, armed with pump-action guns, pistols, and other offensive weapons, forcibly entered residential homes, held victims and their families’ hostage, and robbed them of large sums of money, electronic devices, and other valuable items.
“The Ashanti Regional Police Command, through a coordinated intelligence-led operation, has arrested several suspects involved in a series of violent residential robberies within parts of the Ashanti Region in recent weeks.
“During the operation, one suspect sustained gunshot wounds in an exchange of fire with police and was later pronounced dead at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital by the attending medical officer.
“Another suspect, identified as Yahaya Nuhu, remains at large and is being actively pursued,” DSP Ahianyo disclosed to journalists during a press briefing on Monday.
He said, “The rapid response from the joint patrol teams from the KNUST District and the Regional Operation gave a significant lead to the Police Intelligence Department (PID), Ashanti Region, who on Friday, June 27, 2025 at about 11:30 a.m. arrested the suspects.”
“The operation led to the recovery of the following stolen items and weapons: Multiple laptops, tablets, and mobile phones, wristwatches, television sets, WiFi routers, three vehicles (Kia Morning and two Toyota Corollas – Reg. Nos. GX 4388-19 and AS 4777-22), face masks used during the operations, Taurus pistol (ACC721513) with 4 rounds of 9mm ammunition, NP Cal 9x19mm pistol (No. 11501418), Jojeff pump-action shotgun (No. 8782) with 33 rounds of ammunition,” he disclosed.
During interrogation, DSP Ahianyo said suspect Kwadwo Kyei Baffour admitted to participating in the robberies and confessed to raping a victim during one of the incidents.
He said intensive efforts are ongoing to arrest the remaining suspect, Yahaya Nuhu, who is currently on the run, calling for public support to the police to get rid of miscreants from the region.
FROM I.F. Joe Awuah, Kumasi