Three suspected kidnappers out of eight have been arrested by the Eastern Regional Police Command in a joint operation with the Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), the Regional CID and support from residents in Ayisikrom near Nankese in the Suhum Municipality.
The three – Kwadwo Asare, 22 , Fatawu Lukeman, 27, and Felix Tetteh Yao, were part of eight (8) armed men who robbed a fetish priest – Emmanuel Sarpong alias Nana Hiamenkyene and kidnapped two of his relatives.
Information gathered indicates that on June 22, 2019, at about 11:41am, a gang of about eight young men armed with cutlasses, axes and other offensive weapons, on board H10O vehicle invaded the house of the fetish priest at Teye Nkwanta near Okorase and broke into his room and made away with his 42 inches Nasco flat screen television set worth GHC 1,800 three sound speakers valued GHC 1,500.00 and one Sound power amplifier also valued GHC 800.
The suspects also made away with a sum of GHC14,000 assaulted and kidnapped son of the fetish priest -Eric Amponsah, 34 and his friend -Enock Addo 26, hijacked a taxi cab with registration number ER 418-16 belonging to the fetish priest and absconded.
Upon receipt of the complaint, Police circulated information to all check points to be on the look out for the culprits.
Police traced the suspects on the Mangoase Road upon Intelligence.
Meanwhile, the suspects had called the Fetish Priest and demanded GHC 40,000 ransom from him for the release of the victims.
The kidnappers forced victim – Enock Addo to call his brother to send money for his release.
His brother could only sent GHC 700 but after the kidnappers received the money they did not release victim.
On June 23, 2019 at about 6.30 am, Regional Police CID and CTU personnel acted upon intelligence and moved to a bush near Ayisikrom a farming community near Nankese in a rescue operation.
The Taxi cab hijacked by the suspects was found abandoned in the forest and was retrieved to a safe place.
The Police Rescue team employed the assistance of the village folks within Ayisikrom and the surrounding villages during a search in the forest, following a lead that was found when the Taxi cab was retrieved.
The search continued until 3.00 pm when the suspects were found with the victims in the bush, upon seeing the Police, the suspects attempted to abscond but the operation team managed to arrest two and rescued the two victims as well. One of the suspects, Kwadwo Asare sustained injuries during his arrest by the youth who were part of the search team.
He is currently on admission at the Eastern Regional Hospital in Koforidua under Police guard
The suspects led Police to an uncompleted building at the outskirt of Ayisikrom where all the items stolen from the house of the fetish priest were retrieved.
The Public Relations Officer of the Eastern Regional Police Command, DSP Ebenezer Tetteh told Starr News the two suspects have revealed they were all recruited for the kidnapping operation by their leader whose name has only be given as”Igboman” who came to Ayisikrom recently.
Further information gathered indicates Igboman took the action to retrieve monies paid to the fetish priest after he failed to double monies given him.
Efforts are being made to arrest the remaining five fugitive kidnappers and their said leader.
Source: Star News
