Armed Robbers On Rampage at Adeiso after decline prosecution due to "order from above"

There are shocking revelations following when some suspected armed robbers wearing police and military uniforms were arrested on Tuesday, June 15, 2021, in Adeiso of the Eastern Region by the Adeiso Police Command.

According to information available to Soireenews, the robbers were grabbed with offensive weapons including side pistols, a full bag of AK 47 ammunitions, pump-action guns, police and military uniforms and boots.

This “Order from Above” release by the Police, however, sent shivers down the spines of residents and staff and management of Summer Tide Limited, whose workers were gravely injured by the fully armed robbers.

The suspects were arrested after attacking workers of Summer Tide Limited at their query site in Adeiso where they shot two persons and bolted away with an amount of GH¢96,700.00.

The incident occurred a day after the heartbreaking murder of a Police officer and civilian during a robbery attack meted to bullion van at Jamestown in Accra.

Addressing a press conference to narrate the incident at the office of Summer Tide Limited in Accra, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company, Mr Samuel Atsu Forson noted that on Tuesday, June 15, 2021, a group of people suspected to be military men because of their attire, attacked his workers at Adeiso.

Flanked by the Ewe Chief in Gs Sapeiman-Fiase community, who doubles as the Chairman of Summer Tide Limited, Togbui Agah Semeglo, he noted that trucks carrying sand from their query site were stopped, attacked and some of their staff arrested by the said military men in a rambo style.

According to him, two of his workers were shot in the attack and an amount of GH¢96,700.00 which was the sales from the sand and stones the company made, was taken away by the said military men.

He however indicated that after the arrest it was discovered that the robbers are not military men but known notorious land guards who were led by the Mponuahene, Nana Tabiri Dade, Kumankuma Mr Bafour Sarpong and one Bashiru.

According to him, when he got the information, he quickly called the Adeiso Police Commander where he mobilized his men to chase the suspected criminals.

“We joined the police in chasing the thugs. It was a bloody incident as they shot two of my men and took away the money from the Cashier,” Mr Forson stated.

Mr Forson said, although some of the robbers managed to escape with the money they have stolen, the police was able to arrest five (5) including Mponuahene, Bafour Sarpong Kumankuma, Nana Tabiri Dade and 3 others who were later brought to the Adeiso police station.

He averred that the search conducted on the suspects revealed some offensive weapons including a full bag of AK 47 ammunitions, side pistols, pomp Action Guns, police uniforms and many more.

“The police also retrieve military and police uniforms and boots they were wearing for the operations,” he said.

Although he commended the Adeiso police commander for acting swiftly in arresting the suspects and referring the case to the District Police Command in Asamankese, the District Commander was handicapped in processing the robbers for court or taking any further action because of an “Order from Above” which called for the release of the suspects because according to the said order, the robbers are natives of Okyeman land.

According to the company CEO, if suspected armed robbers would be released on such order from Above, which said to have come from the Eastern Regional Minister and Eastern Regional Commander of Police then ordinary people are not safe in Ghana.

He poured out his frustrations and noted that if the police or leaders who are clothed with the responsibility to protect the lives and properties of individuals would fail to do so, people would be left with no option but to get their own security and defend themselves.

He said all the incident surrounding the attack on his workers are a clear case of crime and that for the suspects to be released on such orders cannot be understood.

Mr Forson pointed out that possession of unregistered firearms, military uniforms, police uniforms, boots, shooting and robbery are all grounds of crime that must be processed before the court.

The visibly distraught Forson called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to come to their aid and ensure that justice is served by calling for the case and processing the case to court for proper adjudication.

Freeman Koryekpor Awlesu Greater Accra Regional Correspondent