Togolese and Ghanaian police collaborate against criminals

Aflao, Sept 27, GNA - The police at Aflao and their Togolese counterparts are to swap prosecution witnesses and crime investigators to facilitate the prosecution of cases against cross-border criminals in Ghana and Togo.

Mr Ahmed Issah Yakubu, the Aflao District Police Commander told the Ghana News Agency in an interview that there would also be exchanges of dossiers on criminals and joint investigations of criminals nabbed for cross-border crime in the two countries. "Togolese prosecution witnesses would testify in our courts and we will also be in their courts," he said.

Mr Yakubu said the collaboration had already resulted in the arrest at Ziome, a suburb of Aflao of three foreign nationals suspected to be members of a syndicate involved in recent wave of armed robberies and motorbike snatchings mainly in Togo. He said some Togolese, including security personnel, were reported to have been shot or clubbed to death by criminals and their bikes and other valuables taken away from them. Mr Yakubu said three motorbikes allegedly stolen in Togo under similar circumstances were retrieved from rented rooms of the three suspects at Ziome.

The suspects are Richard Klihorme, 28, Togolese, Abdul Rahman Ede, 25, a Niger national and his brother Yakubu Ede, 19. He said the three who were supposed to be resident in Lome were thought to have rented their individual rooms at Ziome as hideouts and for stocking booties. Mr Yakubu said another suspect Yao Tozo, 33, also a Togolese, had earlier been arrested at Aflao with a motorbike whose owner was allegedly shot dead and the motorbike taken.