The Ghana Police Service has announced a major breakthrough in its fight against armed robbery with the successful dismantling of a notorious criminal syndicate responsible for a series of violent bank robberies across multiple regions.
At a press briefing held at the National Police Headquarters on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, the Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), COP Lydia Yaakor Donkor, revealed that through sustained intelligence operations spanning six months, police arrested ten suspects, while three others were killed during shootouts with officers. A manhunt is underway for the remaining suspects still on the run.
The Syndicate and Suspects
According to the Director General of CID, COP Lydia Yaakor Donkor, the gang, made up of about fifteen ndividuals, had orchestrated violent robberies mainly targeting rural banks in the Ahafo, Western, Central, Eastern, and Ashanti Regions.
Key suspects arrested include:
- Kwasi Agyei @ Cobra – identified as the gang leader
- Ibrahim Alhassan
- Samuel Appiah @ Akwesi Mugu
- Francis Acquah @ Preman
- David Obuobi @ Wasty
- Martin Akansina @ One Billion
- Nana Yaw Frimpong @ Mystical
- Kojo Atingawo @ Borga
- Samuel Akwasi Gyan
- Stephen Sey
Three suspects – Kwaku Peprah @ X5, Boozin, and Natty Bongo – were killed in exchanges of gunfire with police. Others, including Kwabena Owusu Ansah @ Kobby and Albert, remain at large.
Robberies Across Regions
The gang is linked to at least 12 violent robberies between April and September 2025, targeting banks including Adansi Rural Bank (Fomena), Lower Pra Rural Bank (Takoradi), Ahafo Kukom Community Bank, Kakum Rural Bank (Elmina), Ecobank (Kenyasi), and the St. Martin De Porres Cooperative Credit Union (Atonsu Monaco).
In several incidents, armed robbers stormed bank premises at dawn, tied up security guards, and used industrial cutting machines to break into vaults. Police investigations confirmed that some of the weapons stolen during these attacks were service rifles snatched from officers on duty. One of the retrieved rifles was traced to a police officer murdered on the Bibiani-Goaso Highway in November 2024, linking the gang to that crime.
Exhibits Retrieved
Items recovered from suspects include:
- 3 AK-47 rifles
- 7 pump action guns
- 4 pistols with ammunition
- Cash of GH¢18,845.00, $104, 190 Liberian Dollars, ₦5,800, and CFA 31,000
- Six vehicles and four motorbikes
- Assorted mobile phones and jewelry
Police Assurance
COP Donkor commended the Ashanti Regional Commander and officers who worked tirelessly to achieve the breakthrough, while also praising the leadership of the IGP, Dr. Christian Tetteh Yohuno, whose strategic guidance made the operation possible.
She further urged the public to remain vigilant and continue volunteering credible information to aid police investigations.
“To the criminals out there, always remember that you may run and hide, but we will surely get you arrested to face the full rigours of the law; we are coming for you,” COP Donkor warned.
The suspects in custody will be arraigned before court as investigations continue.
By Peter Quao Adattor
