Robbers kill woman in school

A 31-year-old cook of the Emmanuel Preparatory School at North Kaneshie in Accra met her untimely death when two armed robbers attacked and shot her in the ribs in the wee hours of yesterday.

The deceased, identified as Mariama Salifu, was said to have shouted when the armed robbers pounced on them outside the compound of the school with guns.

One of the armed robbers, who was said to have been angered by her act, shot her in the ribs and bolted.

She died on arrival at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.

Narrating the incident to DAILY GUIDE, Superintendent Fleance Adika, the Kaneshie District Police Commander, said the deceased was a cook at the Emmanuel Preparatory School, where the incident occurred.

On that fateful day, according to information gathered by the police, Mariama Salifu left the house with Peter Ansah, the school driver, around 3:00am in a Honda 4×4 car with registration number GR 8929-12, which belonged to the school, to Bubuashie to mix flour for baking.

On their return around 5:15am, the two realized that the gate to the main entrance was open and so they drove straight into the yard.

Immediately they got out of the vehicle, two men emerged from the kitchen of the school, holding pistols. They collected the car keys from the driver.

One of the armed robbers pointed a gun at Mariama on the compound while the other led Peter into the office of the school proprietress.

When the armed robber who had led the driver into the room came out alone, he immediately sat in the Honda Civic vehicle to start the car and at that point, Mariama shouted for help.

The armed robber who was keeping an eye on her immediately shot her in the ribs to silence her.

The two, on sensing danger after the act, sat on a motorbike which had been parked outside the gate and took off.

Some residents who heard the gunshots and came out met the victim lying in a pool of blood, while Peter, who had sought refuge under a bed in one of the rooms, came out to help.

Mariama was rushed to the Holy Trinity Hospital, a few meters away from the school, for medical attention, but she was referred to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital due to the severity of the injury.

On arrival at Korle-Bu however, she passed on.

The body has since been deposited at the Korle Bu morgue for autopsy.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Christian Tetteh Yohuno, who was at the scene, cautioned individuals to be very careful whenever they are being attacked by armed robbers.

He said the death of Mariama could have been averted if she had not shouted; adding that the proper thing to do when one is being attacked is to comply with whatever the armed robbers say.

“Victims can steal a glance at them when they are not paying attention for some features on their bodies,” the police chief said.

The features, he said, would help the police arrest them to face the law.

DCOP Yohuno also urged individuals to help the police with information leading to the arrest of the suspects.