The Ashanti Regional Police Command has arrested two young men in connection with the robbery and murder of a 28-year-old woman at Asokore Mampong near Kumasi, in an incident that has reignited public concern over rising street crime in the region.
The suspects, identified as Farouk Iddris, 20, a motorbike mechanic and rider, and Salim Mohammed, 19, a motorbike mechanic and rickshaw (Pragia) rider, are alleged to have attacked and killed the victim during a robbery on December 6, 2025, at about 5:00 p.m. Police identified the deceased as Silver, also referred to as Sylvia, Ngozi.
According to the Ashanti Regional Police Command, the two suspects robbed the woman of her iPhone 11 Pro during the attack. Preliminary investigations indicate that in the course of the robbery, one of the suspects allegedly stabbed the victim with a knife, inflicting fatal injuries.
Following the incident, the suspects reportedly went into hiding. However, acting on intelligence, a joint team from the Regional Police Headquarters and the Anti-Robbery Unit arrested them on December 12, 2025, at about 9:00 p.m., at their hideout in Aboabo, Kumasi.
In a statement, the Head of the Public Affairs Unit of the Ashanti Regional Police Command, DSP Godwin Ahianyo, said items retrieved from the suspects include the stolen iPhone 11 Pro and a zigzag-edged knife believed to have been used in the murder.
He disclosed that during interrogation, both suspects admitted to committing the robbery, while Salim Mohammed, who was the pillion rider on the day of the incident, identified the knife as the weapon used to stab the deceased.
A search conducted in the room of Farouk Iddris also led to the retrieval of additional offensive weapons, including machetes and knives, which have been retained for evidential purposes. Police say the suspects remain in custody and will be arraigned before court as investigations continue.
In a related development, the Ashanti Regional Police Command has also arrested three other suspected armed robbers believed to be behind a series of street robberies across parts of Kumasi and its environs.
The suspects, namely Abdul Fatau, 22; Philip Nyarko, 24; and Smack Haddy, 21, were picked up in connection with separate robbery incidents at KNUST, Asokore Mampong, Kenyase, Antoa Bosore, Maayanka, Ayeduase and surrounding communities.
Items recovered from this second group include 59 iPhones, six Android phones, four tablets, five laptops, as well as a knife and a cutlass believed to have been used in some of the crimes. Police said the suspects have confessed to their involvement in the robberies and are currently assisting with investigations.
Addressing the media, the Ashanti Regional Police Commander, DCOP Osei Akoto Arthur, described the arrests as a major breakthrough in the Command’s ongoing fight against violent and street crime. He commended officers involved in the intelligence-led operations for their professionalism and diligence, and assured residents of the Command’s commitment to ensuring safety and security across the region.
DCOP Akoto Arthur appealed to members of the public who may have lost mobile phones or other valuables in recent robberies within the affected areas to report to the police to help with investigations. He also urged the public to continue supporting the police with timely information to help curb criminal activities.
All suspects, police said, will be put before court in due course to face the full rigours of the law.
FROM I.F. Joe Awuah & David Afum, Kumasi