By Sarah Baafi
The Ashanti Regional Police Command has arrested five suspected robbers in intelligence-led operations, including two suspects linked to the stabbing murder of a 28-year-old woman, Silver Ngozi, at Asokore Mampong, and three others described as serial street criminals operating across parts of Kumasi.
The Regional Police Commander, DCOP Arthur Osei Akoto, briefed the media on Monday, saying the arrests were carried out on 12 December following intelligence gathering. The suspects were picked up at hideouts in Aboabo during a joint operation involving the Regional Headquarters and the Anti-Robbery Unit.
Two of the suspects, Farouk Iddris, 20, a motorbike mechanic, and Salim Mohammed, 19, a rickshaw rider, reportedly admitted to robbing Ms Ngozi on 6 December at about 5:00 pm.
Police said Mohammed, who was the pillion rider on the motorbike, identified a zigzag-edged knife he allegedly used to stab the victim. The weapon was retrieved, along with a machete, additional knives and the deceased’s iPhone 11 Pro, which was found in Iddris’ room.
The remaining suspects, Abdul Fatawu, also known as “UN”, 22; Philip Nyarko, also known as “Kawawa”, 24; and Samak Hadi, also known as “Toronto”, 21, confessed to a series of armed robberies in Asokore Mampong, KNUST, Kanyase, Bosore, Duase, Antoa, Mayanka, Ayeduase and surrounding communities.
Items recovered during the raids included 59 iPhones, six Android phones, four tablets and five laptops.
“Suspects will be put before court soon to answer for these crimes,” DCOP Arthur Osei Akoto said.
