Police to investigate killing of three armed robbers at Mallam Atta

The Accra Regional Police Command has welcomed calls for investigations into the circumstances that led to the killing of three suspected armed robbers last Friday night, at a drinking spot near the Mallam Atta Market in Accra.

This follows accusations from witnesses and relatives of the deceased that the police officers ‘killed’ the suspects in cold blood. The suspects- Awudu; Bad Boy, alias Richie, a Fulani man and Biggie- were all beneficiaries of the 'Justice for All' programme.

Residents said they heard gunshots but they did not see arms on the suspects. One eyewitness told Joy News she thought the police could have arrested the suspects.

But the police have denied the accusations. In an interview with Joy News, the Accra Region Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Freeman Tetteh said, the three suspects who were on unregistered motor bikes, died during a shootout with the police while attempting to rob the bar.

“They attempted to rob, we got there and they turned their fire on us so we have to reply fire-to-fire. Because we had a stronger fire power we were able to overcome them and in the process they were shot dead” explained DSP Tettey.

Speaking on the Super Morning Show, Monday, April 15, 2013, the PRO welcomed calls for a probe into the incident. “The Police Administration will commence investigations…we have every reason to believe they were criminal and we will not backtrack on our position,” Freeman Tettey maintained.

He said the police administration wished the suspects were alive to provide vital information leading to the arrests of other members belonging to the gang.

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Public Safety (BPS) has issued a five day ultimatum to the Professional Intelligence Safety Bureau (PIBS) of the Police Administration, to commence investigations into alleged misconduct on the part of the officers.

Executive Director of BPS, David Akwada says his outfit will be compelled to lodge official complaints before the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) for investigations into alleged violation of human rights, if the police failed to initiate its own inquiry into the incident by Friday, April 19, 2013.