A pre-dawn armed robbery on the Kasoa-Winneba Highway left four passengers with gunshot wounds and raised renewed alarms over security conditions in the Central Region’s Gomoa East District, authorities said Saturday.
The attack, which occurred around 1:00 a.m. near Buduatta Junction, targeted a commercial Toyota Hiace minibus traveling the corridor. According to the Central East Regional Police Command, gunmen had blocked the road and were robbing motorists at gunpoint when the minibus approached. Upon attempting to stop, the vehicle came under fire, resulting in injuries to four passengers.
The victims were transported to the Winneba Trauma and Specialist Hospital, where they are receiving treatment. Police say the assault appears to be part of a broader pattern of highway robberies in the area, with similar incidents reported in recent months near Potsin Junction and Okyereko Junction.
Law enforcement sources say intensified police checkpoints in previously targeted areas may have prompted the criminals to shift operations to less monitored sections of the highway. Officers from the Formed Police Unit (FPU) and the Kasoa Divisional SWAT team responded swiftly to the latest incident and are now spearheading the investigation.
While returning from the scene, officers encountered two men behaving suspiciously near the Onion Market at approximately 2:30 a.m. One suspect fled into nearby brush, while the other was apprehended. A search of the suspect yielded three mobile phones believed to belong to victims of the robbery. Police say he was positively identified by the minibus driver and several passengers.
The suspect has been transferred to the Central East Regional Police Command for further questioning. No charges have been filed yet.Police officials, particularly from the Gomoa Dominase District, voiced concerns over persistent logistical challenges. The station reportedly lacks adequate patrol vehicles and personnel to effectively address the surge in criminal activity along the highway.
Authorities are urging the government and the Inspector General of Police to provide additional resources to bolster security in the district and protect commuters who rely on this increasingly volatile transit route.
Source:TheDotNews