Armed gang robbing bank customers in Kumasi busted; Six in custody

Police in the Ashanti Region have arrested six individuals; five Nigerians and one Ghanaian suspected of being behind a string of robberies targeting bank customers in Kumasi. According to the police, these suspects were part of a criminal syndicate that monitored people who had withdrawn large sums of money from financial institutions and later stole the money from their vehicles.

The arrests were announced by Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Emmanuel Teye Cudjoe, who revealed that the group had been operating in the city for about a month. They reportedly used two Toyota Highlander vehicles with fake number plates to follow and ambush their victims. The police linked the suspects to multiple incidents at locations such as the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Asokwa, Mayanka, the Kumasi Central Mosque, ShopRite, and the Georgia Hotel area.

The suspects—identified as 29-year-old taxi driver Russell Ekenze, 49-year-old Francis Friday, and 51-year-old Linus Agwazie—were arrested on June 19. During their interrogation, they confessed to being part of a larger criminal ring that is still under investigation. Police say several of their accomplices are yet to be captured, including Cosmas Maduabuchukwu, who reportedly sustained injuries while evading arrest and is currently on the run.

The two vehicles used in the operations have been seized, and the six suspects are currently in police custody. DCOP Cudjoe emphasized that the syndicate is primarily made up of Nigerian nationals, with only one Ghanaian involved. He assured the public that the Ashanti Regional Police Command is intensifying efforts to ensure public safety and to apprehend the remaining suspects.