GUNMAN KILLED (1B, DEC 11, 2010)

Story: Kwame Asare Boadu, Kumasi

A suspected armed robber was killed and four others arrested in two separate incidents in Kumasi in which the robbers engaged the police in shoot-outs.
In the first instance, policemen from the Buffalo Unit had moved in response to a distress call that armed robbers had besieged a house at Ayeduase, a suburb of Kumasi.
According to the Ashanti Regional Police Commander, DCOP Patrick Timbillah, few metres away from the crime scene, they were met with gun-shots from the robbers and the policemen responded.
In the exchanges, one of the robbers was seriously injured, while three others escaped, but the injured one, identified as Nana Yaw, died on the way to hospital.
The second incident occurred at Atabrakaso, also in Kumasi, where the four suspects were arrested. Those arrested were identified as Moses Mumuni, 29, Kofi Kumi, 25, Osei Kofi, 31, and Kwabena Antwi, 25. They were said to have attacked the Hansol Mining Company in Kumasi.
Briefing journalists in Kumasi yesterday, DCOP Timbillah said in the Ayeduase encounter, the police received the call about 10:15 p.m. on Thursday and were on the scene within six minutes.
He said before he was pronounced dead, Nana Yaw confessed that he went on the operation with three others who managed to run away.
DCOP Timbillah further explained that Nana Yaw said two of his accomplices had in their possession two locally manufactured pistols while the other used a pump action gun.
He said when the police searched Nana Yaw, a knife and a toy pistol were found on him. The police also picked four spent cartridges at the crime scene.
DCOP Timbillah appealed to the general public, especially health facilities, to be on the look-out for persons with gun-shot wounds as the men were suspected to have been hit by bullets.
He also appealed to the general public to continue to volunteer information to the police to enable them to fight the menace of armed robbery.