General News of Thursday, 14 July 2011

Source: GNA

Armed Robbers kill watchman, steal fuel sale proceeds at Avoeme

Aflao, July 14, GNA - Two armed robbers, wielding PM 49 submachine guns on Tuesday night attacked and robbed the Quantum Petroleum and Gas Station at Avoeme Junction at Aflao, killing a watchman in the process and stealing the day’s sales.

Anthony Amesinu Lumor, 70, one of the watchmen at the Station was shot to death.

Mr Ahmed Issah Yakubu, Aflao District Police Commander, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that the robbers arrived at around 2320 hours when the station had closed and the money was being counted under lock and key in the office.

He said the robbers positioned themselves one in front and the other at the back of the office, both firing into the air.

He said the robber in front of the Station ordered Lumor to ask those counting the money inside to open the door and even before he (Lumor) could comply, he shot him in the knee.

Mr Yakubu said the robber behind had then broken the louver blades behind the office and then pointed a gun at those counting the money to open the door or be killed.

He said when the door was opened the robber in front of the Station Officer pressed into the office and snatched the money estimated at GHC12,872.00 and the two escaped.

Mr Yakubu said the body of Lumor was at the Ketu-South District Hospital morgue.

He said the Police had a fair idea about the robbers, a Nigerian, and his gang who had been operating with a gun stolen in Lome, Togo.

Mr Yakubu said pellets found at the scene of robbery had ballistic resemblance of the stolen gun.

He said the Nigerian suspect was arrested in Lome recently but escaped and that the Police in Ghana were liaising with their counterparts in Togo to arrest the suspects and step up the fight against robbers in the area.

Mr Yakubu said police had picked two workers of the Station for interrogation.

Meanwhile, an Aflao Circuit Court on Monday jailed one Wisdom Abornyo 45, for robbing a taxi driver of his cab at gun point.

Abornyo 29, who pleaded not guilty, was nabbed while driving the vehicle towards Aflao for sale.

His two accomplices in the vehicle managed to escape.