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11th August 2025 7:23:30 AM
5 mins readBy: Abigail Ampofo
Police have arrested seven suspects involved in hijacking a fuel tanker en route from Tema on Thursday, August 7.
This was announced by the police in a statement on Friday, August 8, after they successfully apprehended the suspects following what they described as a “coordinated snap-check operation across the Greater Accra and Eastern Regions.”
According to the police, it all started when they intercepted a green pickup truck at the Ablekuma Borkorborkor checkpoint around 12:30 a.m. The pickup truck was carrying three men in its open bucket, but before the officers could get closer, two of the men jumped out and ran, shouting that they had been attacked and that their fuel tanker had been stolen near Nsawam the night before.
The driver of the pickup sped off, leaving the third man behind, who took to his heels but was arrested by the police after a short chase. Police later confirmed that the two victims were tanker drivers from Tema who had been handcuffed and forced into the pickup by the suspects.
After the arrest of one of the victims, the police, acting on intelligence, moved to Asikwa Junction near Bunso in the Eastern Region, where they arrested six more suspects and retrieved other items linked to the suspects.
Officers recovered the stolen tanker, another tanker with registration number GN 804–13, and a pumping machine believed to have been used to transfer the stolen fuel. A Volkswagen Golf (GW 5185–Z) linked to the suspects was also seized.
According to the police, all seven suspects are currently in their custody, adding that all other items retrieved from the suspects also remain with the police while they await to be arraigned before court. The police have assured the public that these suspects, if proven guilty, will be dealt with according to the rigour of the law. The officers that led to the successful operation were also commended by the law enforcement body for their swiftness and intelligence.
What the law says about stealing
Section 124 of the Criminal Offences Act indicates that a person who steals commits a second-degree felony. Where the court that finds a person guilty of stealing is satisfied that on not less than two previous occasions the accused was found guilty of stealing, the Court shall order that the whole or a part of a term of imprisonment imposed by it shall be spent in productive hard labour.
A person in respect of whom the court makes an order under subsection (2) is disqualified for election to Parliament or to a District Assembly within the meaning of the Local Government Act, 1993 (Act 462), for a period not exceeding five years.
In an unrelated development, the Accra Regional Police Command has made progress in its investigations into a series of motorbike thefts reported within the country's capital over the past month.
The probe follows a complaint by a resident of Madina who reported that his red Royal motorbike, registration number M-25-CW 367, which he had parked in his house the previous night, was stolen while he slept. Acting on intelligence, the team arrested Emmanuel Akanpatiba, who was found in possession of the stolen motorbike.
During interrogation, the suspect admitted to the offence and identified his accomplice as Israel Fredrick Lomotey, who is currently at large. Investigations have further revealed that the suspect and his accomplices are responsible for at least 12 motorbike thefts in various parts of the city, including Madina, Adenta, Lapaz, and Teshie, within the past month.
The suspects, also named Nurudeen, Ali, and Inusah, all based at the Agbogbloshie Onion Market, are the receivers of the stolen motorbikes. During interrogation, the suspect revealed that he typically breaks the steering lock of the stolen motorbikes, transports them to Agbogbloshie, and sells them to receivers for amounts ranging between GHC2,000 and GHC3,000, depending on the year of registration of the motorbike.
According to the police, efforts are underway to arrest the remaining accomplices—Israel Fredrick Lomotey, Nurudeen, Ali, and Inusah—and recover additional stolen motorbikes. The Accra Regional Police Command has advised the public to secure their motorbikes and other valuables properly and report any suspicious activity to the nearest police station.
Members of the public with information on the remaining suspects or stolen motorbikes are encouraged to contact the police through 18555 or 192. Also, in late June, the Ashanti Regional Police Command announced the arrest of 5 individuals said to be responsible for a series of targeted vehicle break-ins and thefts across the Kumasi Metropolis.
The syndicate is largely composed of Nigerian nationals, with one Ghanaian suspected, according to the Police report. Through coordinated intelligence and surveillance by the Police Intelligence Directorate and the intelligence video surveillance (IVS) system, two vehicles used in the crimes were traced.
On June 19, three suspects—Russell Ekenze, Francis Friday, and Linus Agwazie—were arrested. Tools used in the thefts were retrieved from their vehicles. Two women, Gifty Ozurumbam and Gladys Ibrahim, were also arrested for obstructing investigations.
The suspects confessed to multiple incidents and named other accomplices, including Cosmas Maduabuchukwu, who remains at large. The five suspects are in custody and being arraigned before court. Investigations are ongoing in collaboration with the Greater Accra Regional Police Command.
Over recent months, the Police received multiple reports of victims being trailed from financial institutions and having large sums of money stolen from their vehicles while parked.
Also, the Nkawie Divisional Police Command has arrested a suspect in connection with a recent case of robbery and murder. Suspect William Ofori Atta, aged 29, was apprehended at Kukuom in the Ahafo Region for his involvement in the robbery and killing of one Emmanuel Kwabena Boakye, aged 28. The incident occurred on May 26, 2025, at approximately 12:45 p.m., at the Radiance Filling Station in Mpasatia, Ashanti Region, where the victim was employed.
Following a coordinated investigation led by the Ashanti Regional Cyber Crime Unit, the Kukuom Police, and the Nkawie Divisional Command, the suspect was arrested from his hideout in Kukuom on June 21, 2025, at about 5:30 a.m. The Command has commended the swift collaboration between the various units involved in all the arrests made.
"Again, the Command wishes to assure the public of its unwavering commitment to ensuring the safety and security of all citizens and urge anyone with further information regarding these cases to come forward. Investigations remain ongoing and we will continue to update the public as development unfolds," the Command added in a statement.
During police interrogation, the suspect admitted to shooting and killing the victim. He is currently in custody and will be arraigned before court in due course to face justice. A mobile phone believed to belong to the deceased was retrieved from the suspect and will undergo further forensic analysis as part of ongoing investigations.
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