The Ashanti South Regional Police Command has successfully foiled a major highway robbery, neutralizing three suspected armed robbers during a fierce exchange of gunfire along the Anwiankwanta-Obuasi Highway.
According to the police reports, the operation, which took place on Christmas Eve, prevented a planned attack on commuters during the peak of the festive season.
“The neutralized suspects have been identified as Seidu Issah, Musah Yakubu, and Yahaya Munkaila, also known as Tijani. The gang had converged in a secluded bush area between Anwiankwanta and the Jacobu junction on December 24, 2025, to finalize their operation”
Ashanti South Regional Police Command
Upon encountering the tactical police team, the suspects opened fire, prompting the officers to retaliate. While the three primary suspects were gunned down, two other members of the syndicate managed to escape into the dense forest, triggering an immediate manhunt.
Following the initial confrontation, the police conducted a thorough sweep of the scene, recovering a significant cache of weaponry. The items retrieved included two pump action guns, an unbranded pistol, twenty-five live cartridges, and six spent cartridges.
The neutralized suspects were rushed to the Bekwai Municipal Hospital; however, they were pronounced dead on arrival. Their remains have since been deposited at the hospital morgue for preservation and autopsy as investigations continue into their broader criminal network.
The Ashanti South Regional Police Command believes this gang was responsible for a series of violent activities that have terrorized the region over the past few months. Investigations have linked the neutralized suspects to the Jacobu airport robbery on November 3, 2025, an incident that tragically claimed the life of a security officer.
Furthermore, “the group is tied to multiple highway robberies along the Manso stretch,” the Antoakrom robbery, and a recent attack on a gold buyer at Anwiankwanta on December 8.
Deepening The Crackdown
In a follow-up operation conducted on December 26, 2025, the police expanded their search to a palm plantation near Manso Nkwanta. This location served as a strategic hideout where the syndicate reportedly concealed high-caliber rifles.
“The intelligence-led raid resulted in the recovery of an AK47 assault rifle, an MG3 rifle, an additional pump action gun, and a single-barrel gun. Various quantities of ammunition and personal effects belonging to the suspects were also found at the site”
Ashanti South Regional Police Command
The recovery of these military-grade weapons raised concerns about the sources of illegal arms within the region. The police indicated that they are working tirelessly to trace the origins of these firearms to prevent further proliferation.
The Ashanti South Regional Police Command assured the public that the neutralization of these suspects significantly disrupts the activities of armed gangs in the area, providing a much-needed reprieve for travelers and residents alike during the remainder of the 2025 holidays.
Efforts to apprehend the two surviving accomplices remain the top priority for regional security forces. The police called on the public to provide any information that could lead to the arrest of these individuals, emphasizing that the safety of the highway depends on the total dismantling of the syndicate.
This decisive action by the police service underscores the heightened security posture of the state, as law enforcement agencies intensify efforts to protect the country’s major transport corridors from violent crime.
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