Youth group chases highway robbers

The Asafo groups and watch committee of Akpafu-Odomi in the Hohoe Municipality incensed by the frequent highway robbery along  the Hohoe-Jasikan road have mounted man-hunt for robbers who fled into the forest.

Masked highway robbers in the early hours of Thursday barricaded the Akpafu Odomi-Mempeasem section of the highway, subjecting commuters to intimidation, physical abuse and vanishing into the forest with unspecified cash, mobile phones and other valuables.

Nana Tete Atu IV, Chief of Akpafu-Odomi told the Ghana News Agency that the robbers run into the forest when they noticed the threat of arrest.

He said a cargo driver was robbed of GH¢1,700 and a mobile phone, while other passengers suffered similar fate.

Nana Atu said the Akpafu Odomi-Mempeasem and Odomi-Kyinahin segments of the Hohoe-Jasikan highway had become a fertile grounds for the robbers as more than five robberies had taken place in the area in 12 months.

He said the community watch committee and the Asafo groups then mobilised to fight back by combing the forests and bushes in a bid to apprehend the robbers.

Nana Atu said the community was adopting some measures to forestall future occurrence and appealed to the Highway Police Patrol Team to facilitate the efforts.

He suggested the need for a police barrier or police post along the section of the road.

Mr Kwabena Otuo Acheampong, Hohoe Divisional Crime Officer of the Ghana Police Service said the police patrol team would be deployed to the area while other security measures would be taken to avoid future occurrence.

Source: GNA