A notorious armed robbery gang that had terrorized residents and miners across parts of the Ashanti Region has been brought down following a deadly shootout with police.
At a press briefing on Monday, April 14, the Ashanti South Regional Police Command announced the successful operation that led to the deaths of four armed robbers, including the gang’s ringleaders, Sampson, also known as “Sammy Tugah,” and W.K., an ex-convict from Old Edubiase.
According to Regional Commander ACP Joseph Hammond Nyaaba, the gang had been behind a series of violent crimes in communities including Fomena, Dompoase, and nearby areas. Their attacks had left several people injured, with hundreds of thousands of cedis worth of gold and cash stolen over the past two months.
Trail of Violence
On February 15, 2025, the gang launched a brutal attack on miners between Agogoso and Adukwai, firing sporadically and injuring a Chinese national. They made away with gold concentrate valued at GH¢150,000.
Just a day later, six masked men stormed a mining site at Dinkyei. A police officer responding to the scene was shot, and his AK-47 rifle was taken. The robbers fled with gold worth GH¢200,000.
On March 24, the group ambushed a Nissan Navara vehicle carrying Chinese miners, riddling it with bullets and injuring two occupants.
Another attack followed on April 5, when the robbers blocked a road at Adansi Denkyea with firewood and ambushed a Toyota Corolla. Two small-scale miners were shot and robbed of six pounds of gold worth GH¢80,000.
On April 10, the gang broke into the Adansi Rural Bank in Fomena. Five robbers scaled the fence, tied up the security guard, and used an electric cutter to breach the vault. They stole an unspecified amount of cash and two pump-action guns.
The following day, on April 11, they struck again—this time on the Akrokerri-Anwiankwanta road—attacking seven vehicles, robbing passengers, and shooting four individuals.
Their crime spree came to a deadly halt on April 12. Acting on intelligence, police tracked the suspects to Sanfo Aduam, where they were traveling in a KIA Picanto taxi with registration number WR 650-17.
A fierce gun battle ensued when officers intercepted the vehicle. Four of the suspects, including Sammy Tugah and W.K., were fatally shot. A fifth suspect survived the encounter and is currently under heavy police guard at the Bekwai Government Hospital.
The police recovered the stolen AK-47 rifle, two pump-action shotguns from the bank heist, live ammunition, and spent cartridges at the scene.
ACP Nyaaba praised the efforts of the Regional Intelligence and Anti-Robbery units and reaffirmed the police service’s commitment to public safety.
“We urge citizens to report suspicious activities to aid our fight against crime. The Ghana Police Service, under the leadership of IGP Tetteh Yohuno, remains steadfast in ensuring the safety of all,” he stated.
