CID boss COP Lydia Yaako Donkor warns criminals as police arrest 10 suspects in major rural bank robbery spree

Commissioner of Police (COP) Lydia Yaako Donkor, Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), has issued a stern warning to criminals, declaring that the Ghana Police Service is coming after them.

“To the criminals out there, always remember that you may run and hide, but we will surely get you arrested to face the full rigours of the law; we are coming for you,” she said at a press briefing announcing the arrest of 10 suspects linked to a string of rural bank robberies across the country. Three other accomplices were shot dead during a shootout, while police are still pursuing additional suspects on the run.

The arrested suspects include Akwesi Agyei alias Cobra, Ibrahim Alhassan, Samuel Appiah alias Akwasi Mugu, Francis Acquah alias Preman, David Obuobi alias Wasty, Martin Akansina alias One Billion, Nana Yaw Frimpong alias Mystical, Kojo Atingwo alias Borga, Samuel Akwasi Gyan, and Stephen Sey.

Between April 10 and September 14, 2025, the gang attacked several financial institutions, including Adansi Rural Bank in Fomea, Lower Pra Rural Bank in Takoradi, Asokore Rural Bank in Asokwa, Ahafo Kukuom Rural Community Bank, Nwabiagya Rural Bank in Ofinso, Bosumtwi Rural Bank at Suntreso, Kakum Rural Bank in Elmina, MRB Bank in Winneba, South Birim Rural Bank in Akim Asene, Ecobank at Ahafo Kenyasi, and St Martin De Porres Cooperative Credit Union in Atonsu.

Following the arrests, police retrieved three AK-47 rifles, a single-barreled gun with one AA round, seven pump-action guns with 96 rounds of AAA ammunition, three Bruni pistols with 40 rounds, and an M&P pistol with four rounds. They also seized cash amounting to GHS18,845, USD 104, 190 Liberian dollars, ₦5,800 Nigerian naira, 31,000 CFA, and a quantity of assorted Ghanaian coins. Additional confiscations included six vehicles, four motorbikes, assorted mobile phones, and jewellery.

COP Donkor revealed that one AK-47 rifle retrieved from the gang had been issued to the late General Lance Corporal Francis Yaw Adu of Tepa District Police Headquarters, who was killed by armed robbers on the Bibiani-Goaso Highway on November 29, 2024. The other two rifles were service weapons seized from police officers attacked at the Ecobank Ahafo Kenyasi branch on September 8, 2025.

She explained that a critical analysis of robberies between November 2024 and September 2025 showed a consistent modus operandi: gangs armed with pump-action guns stormed banks, held security guards hostage, snatched their weapons, and used industrial cutting machines to break into vaults.

Police intelligence led investigators to the suspected mastermind, Kwabena Owusu Ansah alias Kobby, an ex-convict believed to have recruited several members for the operations. Further intelligence guided officers to the hideout of Akwesi Agyei alias Cobra at Esereso Adagya, where two AK-47 rifles and ammunition were found concealed in a sack submerged in a pond.

During interrogation, Cobra admitted his involvement in the robberies and named accomplices, including Kobby, David Obuobi, Francis Acquah, Stephen Sey, Martin Akansina, Kweku Peprah, Nana Yaw Frimpong, Atingawo, Alhassan Ibrahim, Samuel Appiah, Samuel Akwasi Gyan, Natty Bongo, one Boozin, and one Albert. COP Donkor confirmed that suspects in custody confessed to their roles in the attacks, with some victims identifying them during an identification parade.