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Opinions of Wednesday, 17 November 2010

Columnist: Tawiah, Francis

CEPS Check Point: High Duty? Yes! Armed Robbers? No!

Four Armed Robbers dressed in military and police uniforms who on Saturday, November 13, clashed with custom officials at the Dowenya Customs (CEPS) Check point after robbing passengers on Aflao-Accra bound bus could still escape having been intercepted by the Custom Officials (with the booty robbed from the passengers.)

The Armed Robbers who claimed to be national security operatives held (the) over 20 passengers on board a bus from Aflao to Accra hostage, threatening to kill them should they refuse to comply with their demands and orders. The Armed Robbers after robbing them completely of everything ordered them to be silent as their bus approached a check point on the Dowenya-Tema road.

The Customs officials at the Dowenya check point stopped the men after they attempted to cross the check point (with the bus and the passengers) with force. The custom officers refused to allow them to cross the check point after they failed to show their national security ID cards.

The 4 Armed Robbers, who were carrying several guns, according to the CEPS officials were able to bolt away having struggled with CEPS officials at the Customs Check point on the Dowenya-Tema, but surprisingly all the passengers on the vehicle were escorted to the customs Headquarters in Accra to assist in investigations.

FRANCIS TAWIAH (Duisburg – Germany)