A police intelligence-led operation to thwart a planned robbery along the Anwiankwanta–Obuasi road on Christmas Eve culminated in a fatal shootout, leaving three suspected armed robbers dead in a bush between Anwiankwanta and Jacobu Junction in the Ashanti Region. Police report that the deceased were part of a five-member gang believed to be responsible for a string of violent robberies across the area. The suspects allegedly opened fire upon encountering the police team, sparking the exchange of gunfire. Two members of the gang escaped and are currently being pursued.
After the exchange, the three suspects, who had sustained gunshot wounds, were rushed to the Bekwai Municipal Hospital but were pronounced dead on arrival. They were later identified as Seidu Issah, 29; Musah Yakubu, 35; and Yahaya Munkaila, also known as Tijani, 25. Their bodies have since been deposited at the hospital morgue pending autopsy. A police situational report indicated that investigations are ongoing, with efforts focused on arresting the remaining suspects and recovering additional weapons used by the gang.
The report identified the deceased as wanted individuals connected to a series of robbery and homicide cases in Manso, Jacobu, and the Anwiankwanta enclave. The operation was based on intelligence received by the Ashanti Regional Police Command on December 24, 2025, indicating that the gang had regrouped in a bush near the Anwiankwanta–Jacobu Junction and was preparing to stage an attack along the Anwiankwanta–Obuasi road. Acting on this information, police dispatched four service vehicles to the area, where officers encountered five armed men at the scene
The suspects allegedly opened fire in an attempt to escape through the bush, prompting police to return fire. Three of the suspects were hit, while the remaining two escaped, some believed to have sustained gunshot injuries. Items recovered from the scene included two pump-action shotguns loaded with six rounds of ammunition each, an unmarked pistol, a sack containing 25 live cartridges, and six spent shells. Police say investigations will continue until all accomplices are brought to justice.
Source: Patricia Boakye
