The vigilance of the Oda Divisional Police Command has led to the arrest of five suspected armed robbers who snatched a taxi cab after attempting to murder the driver.
The suspects, whose ages range from 18 to 33, have been placed in police custody at Akyem Oda pending further investigations into the matter and prosecution.
They are Samuel Nyamekye, a plumber, Moses Agbeko Azuley, a store keeper, Ebenezer Agbeko, a sand winner, Eric Frimpong, an undertaker and Emmanuel Amaning, an electrician.
Briefing Graphic Online on Wednesday, the Oda Divisional Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Ebenezer Ampofo, said around 3.30pm last Saturday, Nyamekye chartered the taxi cab, a Toyota Corolla CE with registration number GT.3731-15 driven by Elvis Tarkson from Oda to Akwatia at a cost of Gh¢70.00.
He said on reaching Akyem Manso, Agbeko Azuley joined the taxi and they continued the journey towards Atiankama Nkwanta.
Chief Supt. Ampofo said on reaching a place called Bolaso between Manso and Atiankama Nkwata, Agbeko Azuley asked the driver to stop for him to pick his goods in a sack by the road side and he complied.
He said immediately the driver stopped, Ebenezer Agbeko, Frimpong, and Amaning emerged from a nearby orange farm to join the two and they brutally assaulted the victim.
He stated the suspects later tied up the hands and legs of the driver, plastered his mouth, eyes and nose.
Chief Supt. Ampofo said the suspects continued to assault the driver with their boots and clubs to ensure that he was dead after Ebenezer Agbeko had told the others that since Turkson knew him if the did not kill him, he (victim) would later cause their arrest. He said the robbers dumped Turkson”s naked body in the bush and drove his taxi cab away.
According to him, when Turkson regained consciousness, he managed to free himself and walked to the roadside to board a vehicle to Oda but a number of vehicles that passed by refused to pick him, thinking that he was mad.
The Divisional Commander said a passenger in one of the commercial vehicles later identified Turkson as Oda- based taxi driver and impressed upon the driver to give him (the victim) a lift. He stated that Turkson collected the mobile phone of a passenger to call a police officer at Oda and narrated his ordeal to him who in turn informed the Oda Divisional Police Commander.
Chief Supt. Ampofo said he immediately alerted all the police stations and barriers between Oda, Koforidua and Nsawam to look out for the suspect while he sent his men from Oda to pursue the criminals.
He said the personnel managed to arrest the five suspects in the taxi around Asamankese.
According to Chief Supt. Ampofo, the suspects had admitted in their caution statement to the police that they attempted to murder Turkson and snatched his taxi.
He said the suspects later took the police and Turkson who had just been discharged from Oda Government Hospital to the spot where they assaulted the victim and took his taxi away.
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