Two armed robbers remanded into prison custody

Sunyani, Aug.17, GNA – A circuit court at Fiapre has remanded into prison custody two suspected armed robbers who allegedly attacked an Accra bound Yutong bus at Nsuta in the Brong Ahafo Region.

The plea of Osmani Abdulai, 27, a Fulani herdsman and Yaw Adu, 25, a pupil teacher, on conspiracy to commit crime, attempted robbery and murder, was not taken and were ordered to reappear before the court on August 18.

Chief Inspector Kingsley Baafi told the court presided over by Mr Benjamin Yaw Osei that at 2200 hours on July 29, the bus with passengers on board on reaching Nsuta saw four armed men who had mounted a road block with stones and logs.

They ordered the driver, Isaac Adesi, 43, to come out and surrender his money.

He said in the process one of the armed robbers shot the driver at a point blank range with a locally manufactured pistol, he was in turn also instantly shot dead by an escort policeman aboard the bus.

He said Osumanu entered the bus with a cutlass ready to attack the passengers but was also shot and injured by the policeman and he immediately took to his heels.

He said the remaining robbers realizing the presence of a policeman on board the bus fled into the bush.

Chief Inspector Baafi said the police escort then called the regional command and a police team was swiftly dispatched to the scene.

He said the police team in collaboration with their colleagues at Bechem subsequently arrested one of the robbers, Yaw Adu, 25, as he emerged from the bush.

Residents of a village near Nsuta later arrested Osumani who with the gunshot wounds approached someone to direct him to the road side and was handed over to the police.

Chief Inspector Baafi said the police have mounted a manhunt for the remaining suspects.