By Daniel Donkor
The Bono Regional Police Command has shot and killed one suspected armed robber in a pre-dawn gun battle along the Dormaa–Gonokrom highway in the Dormaa West District, thwarting what authorities say was a planned attack on traders using the busy stretch.
The operation, which police describe as intelligence-driven, led to the recovery of five assorted firearms and large quantities of ammunition believed to have been stockpiled for the intended robbery.
Addressing journalists at the Regional Police Headquarters in Sunyani, the Bono Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Joshua Coppson, said the breakthrough followed credible intelligence received on February 11, 2026.
According to DCOP Coppson, police picked up information that a robbery gang was mobilising to ambush traders travelling along the Dormaa–Gonokrom corridor, a key commercial route frequently used by market women and transport operators.
“Immediately the intelligence was received, surveillance teams were deployed to the area to foil the planned attack,” he stated.
He explained that in the early hours of February 12, 2026, officers advancing towards a parked motorbike along the highway suddenly came under heavy gunfire from suspects who had concealed themselves in nearby bushes.
“The Police returned fire,” DCOP Coppson said.
A search conducted at daybreak led to the discovery of one male suspect lying dead, with an AK-47 rifle beside him.
Weapons Cache Uncovered
The Regional Commander further revealed that an expanded search of the scene uncovered a sack containing additional weapons and ammunition, highlighting the scale of the aborted operation.
The items retrieved included two Baikal single-barrel guns, a pump-action gun, a Beretta pistol loaded with three rounds of 9mm ammunition, thirty-four additional rounds of 9mm ammunition, an AK-47 rifle loaded with eleven rounds plus ten extra rounds, thirty-nine BB cartridges, a dagger, a mobile phone, a Honda motorbike, a black mask, and a set of talisman.
Police believe the seized weapons were intended to be used in coordinated attacks targeting unsuspecting traders and commuters.
Investigation Ongoing
DCOP Coppson indicated that the body of the deceased suspect has been deposited at the Police Hospital morgue for preservation, identification, and autopsy.
He assured the public that efforts are underway to identify and apprehend other members of the gang who may have escaped during the exchange of fire.
“The Police remain committed to protecting lives and property in the Bono Region,” he stressed, urging residents to volunteer credible information that could assist in ongoing investigations.
The Command says security operations across the region have been intensified as part of broader efforts to clamp down on armed robbery and ensure the safety of residents and road users.
