The alertness of the Takoradi and Tarkwa Police in the Western Region foiled a robbery attack on a group of traders and passengers travelling on the Takoradi-Tarkwa highway at about 8:45pm last Sunday.
A gang of robbers blocked a section of the road between Nkwanta and Tetrem on the Takoradi-Tarkwa highway with rubber trees and other items to force vehicles carrying passengers to stop in a bid to seize and make away with the passenger’s cash and other valuables.
Personnel from the Highway Patrol team of the Ghana Police Service from Takoradi who were dispatched to the scene upon tip off, arrived at the place on time.
DAILY GUIDE gathered that on seeing personnel of the patrol team, the robbers fled into the nearby bush.
Some eye witnesses told DAILY GUIDE that the passengers, who were ordered to lie on the ground by the robbers just before the officers got to the scene, were rescued unhurt.
DSP Olivia Ewurabena Adiku, Western Regional Police Public Relations Officer revealed that no arrest had been made but gave the assurance that they were determined to go to every length to apprehend the criminals and bring them to justice.
She disclosed that when the police team arrived at the scene, the suspected robbers had blocked the road.
“But there were some passengers lying on the pedestrian walkway and some cars were seen turning. Upon enquiries, the passengers told the police that robbers blocked the road and ordered them to get down and lie down”, she added.
She continued “But I think upon hearing the arrival of the police, the robbers fled into the bush. The whole area was searched but nobody was found there and after speaking to the passengers it was revealed that none of them was robbed”.
The Regional Police PRO noted that the police then ensured that the passengers got back into their respective vehicles and escorted them to a distance for them to continue their journey.
“After escorting them, the highway patrol team continued patrolling the area until everywhere was calm before leaving the scene,” she indicated.
She assured that the police would continue to work with commitment and passion to make things uncomfortable for anybody who had chosen to live outside the law.
Some of the victims applauded the police personnel for the high sense of professionalism they exhibited and called on the people around to furnish the police with information about any suspected criminal in the vicinity.
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