Police arrests Mobil Fuel Station robbers

Sogakope (V/R), Nov. 27, GNA - Four alleged armed robbers who attacked a Mobil fuel station at Sogakope on Saturday taking away millions of cedis have been arrested.

Two of the suspects were arrested on an Accra bound bus at New Tsopoli Police barrier on the Aflao-Accra highway on Sunday, while two others were arrested in a Police operation in Sogakope. Mr. Godact Hlordzi, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in-charge of Sogakope who briefed the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on the incident, said the station watchman whose name was being withheld, is at the Sogakope District Hospital receiving treatment from severe head injuries from excessive beating from the robbers.

Two salesmen who received minor injuries were however, treated and discharged.

Mr Hlordzi said the four robbers approached the station attendants as they were winding up business at midnight on Saturday. He said the four pleaded that fuel be sold to them, for their car which they said, ran out of fuel at the outskirts of the town.

Mr Hlordzi said, while one attendant picked the bunch of keys from one of the offices, ostensibly to serve them, the robbers pulled out a pistol and a short-gun concealed in a travelling bag. The District Police Commander said one of the robbers snatched the bunch of keys from one of the attendants at gun point, while the others ordered the other attendant and the watchman to lie face down amidst beatings.

He said one other robber opened the safe and collected all cash lodged there before the group took to their heels as they continued firing shots to scare people away.

Mr Hlordzi said soon after the robbery the station Manager, Mr J. Dekutse called the Police, who mounted a five-hour "search and arrest" operation and sent signals leading to the two separate arrests. He said the four suspects, whose names were being withheld, are in custody at Sogakope pending an identification parade. Mr Hlordzi said 1.7 million cedis was found on one of the suspects arrested at Tsopoli and that investigations were continuing.