The suspects in police custody. INSET: The weapons
The police have broken the back of a violent robbery syndicate responsible for a series of attacks on rural and community banks across the country, arresting 10 suspects and killing three in gunfire exchanges, with two others still on the run.
The gang of 15, according to the police, operated in parts of the Ahafo, Western, Central, Eastern and Ashanti regions, terrorising bank workers and security personnel during their raids.
The suspects, some of whom confessed after their arrest, include Akwesi Agyei alias Cobra, Ibrahim Alhassan, Samuel Appiah alias Akwesi Mugu, Francis Acquah alias Preman, David Obuobi alias Wasty, Martin Akansina alias One Billion, Nana Yaw Frimpong alias Mystical, Kojo Atingawo alias Borga, Samuel Akwasi Gyan, Stephen Sey, and Kwaku Peprah alias X5, who was killed during operations. Two others, Kwabena Owusu Ansah and Albert, are still at large.
According to police, the syndicate targeted rural and community banks in towns such as Esereso Adagya, Ejisu Achiaakrom, Atonsu-Kyirapatre, Ahwia Zongo, Aputuogya-Abuontem, Kaase-BOST, Asuofua, Pakyi, Obuasi and Buoho near Kronum.
Their victims included Adansi Rural Bank at Fomena, Lower Pra Rural Bank at Takoradi Inchaban, Asokore Rural Bank at Asokwa, Ahafo Kukom Community Bank, Nnwabiagya Rural Bank at Offinso, Bosomtwi Rural Bank at Suntreso, Kakum Rural Bank at Elmina, MRB Bank at Winneba, South Birim Rural Bank at Akim Asene, Ecobank at Kenyasi, and St. Martin De Pores Co-Operative Credit Union at Atonsu Monaco.
The Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Commissioner of Police (COP) Lydia Yaako Donkor, disclosed at a press briefing that, in nearly every attack, the robbers held security officers hostage, tied them up, and used industrial electric cutters to break into vaults.
In some cases, the CID boss stated that they fled with undisclosed sums of money and firearms belonging to guards.
COP Donkor narrated that on April 10, 2025, the gang struck the Adansi Rural Bank at Fomena, tying up security guards and escaping with cash and two pump action guns.
Later in August, they stormed the MRB Bank at Winneba, where a swift police patrol foiled their attempt, she added.
She continued that the most brazen incident occurred on September 8, 2025 when the syndicate stormed Ecobank’s Kenyasi branch.
The CID boss said the suspects, armed with pump action guns and an AK-47 rifle, overpowered two police officers, seized their service rifles, and attempted to cut open the vault.
According to her, a faulty electric cutter prevented them from accessing the cash, but they escaped with the officers’ weapons.
COP Donkor narrated further that during another raid at Atonsu Monaco, the robbers held a security guard and his wife hostage before fleeing with money. Police later retrieved an AK-47 magazine loaded with 10 rounds at the scene.
She said in all, police recovered 14 weapons, including AK-47 rifles, pump action guns, pistols, a single-barrel gun, several rounds of ammunition, as well as vehicles and mobile phones.
Some of the rifles were traced back to earlier killings of police officers, including Corporal Francis Adu Yaw, who was murdered by armed men on the Bibiani-Goaso Highway in November 2024, COP Donkor noted.
The CID Director-General described the arrests as a major breakthrough, saying, “This is the same gang that killed our officer at Tepa and seized his weapon. The recovery of these service rifles proves their involvement.”
She said investigations are ongoing as police intensify efforts to track down the remaining fugitives.
By Prince Fiifi Yorke