Two people killed in highway robbery

Two people were killed and six were injured when armed robbers attacked their vehicles on the Agona Swedru/Koforidua road on Monday.

Ohene Cudjoe, aged 40, a driver who was conveying fishmongers from Winneba on market day, was shot dead by the robbers.

Madam Efuah Badu, a fishmonger also from Winneba, died on the spot when a passenger vehicle ran over her in an attempt to escape the attack.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Joseph Kofi Ackah, Agona Nyakrom District Police Commander, made this known when Madam Ama Benyiwa Doe, the Central Regional Minister, visited the victims at Agona Swedru Government Hospital on Monday.

He said three out of the six injured people were treated and discharged.

DSP Ackah said, the Agona Nsaba and Duakwa police received a distress call at about 0200 hours that armed robbers had barricaded the road between Mensakrom and Agona Duakwa.

He said the first patrol team led by Detective Lance Corporal Lawson Aglagoh was dispatched to the scene.

DSP Ackah said the robbers numbering about 10 had ordered the occupants of eight vehicles from both Agona Swedru and Akim Oda to lie down and surrender all their monies and mobiles phones.

A passenger vehicle escaping the attack ran over Madam Badu who was among those on the ground.

According to DSP Ackah, the robbers engaged in a fierce gun battle with police the team and shot the windscreen of a private car belonging to Corporal Aglagoh before they fled into the bush.

Madam Benyiwa Doe said the robbery should serve as a wake-up call to the police to beef up security at barriers to protect life and property.

She expressed her condolences to the bereaved families and donated 1,000 Ghana Cedis to the Swedru Government Hospital for the upkeep of the victims.**