Police in the Upper East Region have mounted a search for a group of three robbers who laid ambush at Kougri, near Garu, and robbed traders who were on board a Sprinter bus en route to Bawku on Friday, November 19, 2021.
One of the traders, a herbal medicine seller who has been identified only as Charles, was rushed to the Garu Presbyterian Hospital but died while receiving treatment.
Following incessant highway robbery attacks, the Upper East Regional Police Command made provision for police officers to escort commercial vehicles conveying traders to and from marketplaces to foil any planned attacks.
In an interview with the PRO for the Upper East Regional Police Command, ASP David Fianko-Okyere, indicated last Friday’s attack could have been foiled if the driver of the bus hadn’t lagged behind.
“Some of the vehicles with the passengers had already been escorted by police. The White Mercedes Sprinter bus was not on the police escort team. The Upper East Regional Police command has directed that all districts and police stations provide them with escorts. But obviously, we can’t have policemen in all vehicles, so we group them.”
“But we have been having a challenge with some of the drivers. Some of them either leave before the team moves or after the police have escorted them. This incident happened after the police escort team had escorted the others.”
