The Ghana Police Service is providing details on how the two policemen arrested in connection with recent bullion van robberies were killed.
This follows public interrogations as to how the unfortunate incident occurred at Borteyman near Ashaiman in the Tema West Municipality of Accra.
The Director-General of Police Public Affairs, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP), Kwesi Ofori told Accra based Joy fm on Wednesday March 9, 2022 that the two suspects were arrested to assist the police to a location at Borteyman.
According to him, the officers were in the company of the police and were leading police to the hideout of the suspected criminal gang when the incident happened.
“And an intelligence-led field operation took off and in the process, there were heavy exchanges of fire and the two sustained gunshot injuries and were taken to the police hospital in Accra but they later passed on.
“The police were shot at, there was exchange of fire and they were injured in the process and they were sent to the hospital and they passed on.”
“So let us understand this, that in police operations, they are high risks in nature and at the time the raid took place it was very serious and well targeted operations and even as I speak to you, we’ve arrested four policemen, one other civilian and they will be put before court,” DCOP Ofori gave the clarification in an interview closely monitored by DGN Online
On Tuesday evening, the police in a statement revealed that two out six policemen arrested over the bullion van robberies have been killed.
However, following the incident, a section of the public have raised serious concerns over how suspects in police custody assisting with investigations to unravel the serious crime could die as such on a battle field.
But DCOP Ofori clarified that “they opened fire on the police and the police also retaliated and that is why we said we believe some of them might have sustained injuries and are appealing to medical authorities to provide us with related information if they come for treatment.
“The criminals opened fire on the police and the police fired back, in the process the two suspects sustained injuries.”
Mr Ofori said the case was still under investigations.
Earlier statement by the police said there was an exchange of gunshots during an intelligence led raid and the two policemen, No.58284 Constable Reindolph Gyimah Ansah and No. 53549 Lance Corporal Stephen Kwaku Nyame who had earlier been arrested in connection with the bullion van robberies, were shot and were pronounced dead on arrival at the police hospital where they were rushed for treatment.
They strongly believes that some of the suspects have sustained gunshot wounds managed to escape from the scene.
Names of the policemen arrested for their involvement as, No. 58370 Constable Affisu Yaro Ibrahim, No 58355 Constable Richard Boadu, No. 58525 Constable Rabiu Jambedu, No. 58586 Constable Albert Ofosu and suspect Razak Alhassan (a civilian).
Prior to that on Monday March 7, 2022, the police said they had made a major breakthrough in the bullion van robberies after months of investigations
According to the police, some two policemen as the main brains behind some of the multiple robbery attacks on bullion vans in the Greater Accra Region.
The police described the development as a major breakthrough in the fight against bullion van robbery attacks.
They mentioned the suspects as the brain behind the robbery attack around Kingsway somewhere in February 2021 and in Baatsona, Spintex, in March 2021, Jamestown, Adedenkpo, in June 2021 and the recent attempted robbery at North Kaneshie Industrial Area, in February 2022.
By Vincent Kubi