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Tabloid News of Thursday, 12 July 2001

Source: The Independent

Police Gun Down Notorious Robbers

Police in the Kumasi Metropolis have gunned down two notorious armed robbers after an intense battle during the early hours of last Tuesday July 3.

It all started when reports reached the police in the evening of Monday 2 that a Corolla Taxi cab with registration number BA 1365 had been stolen by suspected armed robbers.

They opened fire on the driver of the vehicle and collected the vehicle at gun-point at Santasi, a suburb of Kumasi.

The robbers had apparently altered the registration number on the stolen car in an attempt to outwit the police and the general public. The change resulted in the car having a new number-BA 1188 with the last letter totally covered with the tape.

Following the report made, all police patrol teams were alerted and close to 11 p.m. the peace officers had another tip-off that the robbers had mounted a road block on the Kumasi-Accra highway extorting monies from innocent travellers.

In the process, a cab driver identified as Kwame Appiah who resisted the seizure of his Taxi car with registration number- AS 1798 was shot dead.

A passenger on board was also shot at the knee.

On sighting the police they took to their heels. They were nonetheless given a hot chase by the police to Asokore Mampong, near Kumasi.

In a James Bond-like movie style, the robbers came out of the stolen Toyota Corolla Taxi cab and confronted their adversaries by exchanging fire with the police.

Two of the armed robbers were in the process caught by bullets from the police resulting in their instant deaths. The three others sensing danger fled with the booty they had gotten from their highway adventure leaving the taxi cab they had earlier seized at gun point.

A joint police military team is now in place to track down the remaining three robbers who are believed to be hiding in the Kumasi metropolis.

Mr. George Asiamah, Ashanti Police Commander who commended his men for their gallantry has promised to recommend to their superiors on the wonderful performance of the police officers who took part in the operation for possible promotion.