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General News of Monday, 26 July 1999

Source: GNA

Armed Robbers Rob Koforidua Filling Station

Koforidua, July 24, GNA - Four armed robbers on Friday evening attacked the Safara Goil Filling Station at Koforidua, near the Central Hospital, and made away with the day's sales and savings said to be running into millions of cedis.

Mr Osei Yaw, owner of the filling station, was said to have travelled to Accra at the time of the robbery. Mr Richard Kotey, one of the attendants, told Chief Inspector Jonathan Kwame Abban, Eastern region Police Public Relations Officer, who later visited the scene, that the robbers bought petrol at the station at about 8.20 p.m.

They, however, returned some ten minutes later in a Mitsubishi Lancer saloon car with registration number GT 671 C and parked in front of the office.

Three of the occupants of the vehicle then came out and as one stood guard, two of them entered the office where the sales girl, Akosua Abobia, was counting money and gave a warning shot.

One of the robbers then collected the money that was in an empty brake fluid box while the other one, armed with a pistol and a knife, snatched a bag containing money from an attendant, Mr Michael Doku.

The robbers again gave another warning shot, quickly joined the driver and sped off. In the ensuing confusion, the watchmen guarding the filling station, Kwapong Layao and Akuide Huntor Michael, as well as customers at the station ran for their dear lives.

Chief Inspector Abban said the attendants, as at the time of going to press, were still taking stock to ascertain the total amount of money stolen by the robbers. Chief Inspector Abban appealed to the general public to volunteer information to the police that can lead to the arrest of the robbers.

He also reiterated his appeal to filling stations, financial institutions and commercial houses to take precautionary measures to avoid falling victim to the activities of armed robbers.

Chief Inspector Abban has also called on the Eastern Regional Police Command to investigate the conduct of two policemen who were detailed to visit the scene of the robbery but failed to do so.