8 Alleged armed robbers nabbed

Pages 24/25: Daily Graphic, January 15, 2010.
Story: Albert K. Salia
EIGHT young men who were allegedly preparing to embark on a robbery operation within Madina and the Trassaco Valley Estates areas have been arrested by the police.
Five pistols, a crowbar, pliers, Sellotape and other accoutrements were retrieved from the suspected armed robbers.
Those arrested are Stephen Atsu, 30, Yao Anku, 26, George Dadaku, 28, Richard Ntumy, 20, Kwame Nazah, 26, Yaw Adade, 21, Selassie Agbozo, 20 and Fred Agbenu, 26.
All the suspects are currently being held by the Madina Police.
Briefing newsmen in Accra yesterday, the Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP Rose Bio Atinga, said at about 7p.m. on Wednesday, the Madina Police had information that four armed men had assembled at the Ritz Junction in Madina preparing to go on a robbery operation.
She said the informant indicated that the four armed men had sent an accomplice to buy ammunition for the pistols they were to use for the operation.
She said on seeing the police approach, the four men took to their heels amidst firing and indicated that when the police responded to the firing, the suspected leader, Atsu, gave up and was arrested.
DCOP Atinga said three pistols, one crowbar, a screw driver and Sellotape were retrieved from a bag Atsu was holding.
According to her, Anku was later arrested at Ashalley Botwe, where he had sought refuge and called someone to take him to Kasoa to treat an injury he sustained on his calf during the shoot-out with the police.
The Regional Police boss said at about 3:15a.m. yesterday , the police again had information that another group of men had assembled at Trassaco Valley Estates preparing for a robbery operation within the vicinity.
DCOP Atinga said with the support of some patrol teams from the region, Adade, Selassie and Fred were arrested and two pistols were in their possession.
She said Ntumy, Dadaku and Nazah were also arrested at another location within the Trassaco Valley Estates area.
She said initial investigations had established that the suspects were the new recruits of Kofi Fiagbedzi, alias Spider, who is currently on the police wanted list.