Augustine Okechukwu Maazi
The Ghana police service have arrested a Nigerian and shot dead two others following a foiled robbery attempt on banks at Labone in Accra yesterday.
The suspect, Augustine Okechukwu Maazi, is currently in police custody assisting with investigations. According to a police statement, officers received intelligence at about 10:45am on Wednesday that a gang of robbers were preparing to attack GCB Bank, Ecobank and Zenith Bank, all located at Labone.
The statement indicated that a team was immediately deployed to the area where the suspects were spotted in vehicles parked close to the banks. Upon sighting the police, one of the vehicles sped off in an attempt to escape. The police chased the vehicle and arrested Augustine Okechukwu Maazi while the other occupant managed to escape.
The robbers in the second vehicle also attempted to flee while firing at the police but officers engaged them in a shootout, resulting in the death of two suspects.
The police recovered two vehicles from the scene a Toyota Highlander with registration number GS-1434-18 and a Hyundai Tucson with registration number GS-7915-17.
A blow pistol was also retrieved while the bodies of the deceased suspects have been deposited at the morgue for preservation, identification and autopsy. The police said investigations are ongoing to track down other accomplices and unravel the full extent of the planned operation.
It also assured the public of its commitment to maintaining law and order and protecting financial institutions across the country.
By Prince Fiifi Yorke