The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mr James Oppong-Boanuh has given banks up to this month ending to provide fortified armoured vehicles for carting money, lest the police administration will withdraw its personnel from escort duties.

The banks were urged to take extra steps to safeguard the lives of police officers and others on board the bullion vans, by acquiring a more suffocated vehicles that cannot be easily be run over by armed robbers.

This decision follows a bullion van been attacked by unidentified armed men, which had a police officer brutally killed in line of duty today, June 14, 2021 at Adedenpo, a suburb of James Town in Accra.

In a press statement issued by the Police Service and signed by Director of public Affairs, Mrs Sheilla Kessie Abayie-Buckman reminded the association of Bankers to do the needful by the expected period.

The statement also added that the IGP has assigned the Director-General of Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to take charge over the investigation into the attack on the bullion van.

According to the statement, a preliminary investigation shows that unidentified armed men on a motorbike crossed the bullion van, which was on pay and collection errand at about 11:00 am and shot the police officer.

It said the officer whose name is yet unknown was shot and killed instantly while the van driver sustained gunshot wounds and currently receiving treatment.

Although the two cashiers escaped the attack unharmed, an unlucky hawker who allegedly attempts to raise alarm was chased and killed by the gunmen.

It further adds that experts had been deployed to the scene of the crime and various procedures are being followed to get to the bottom of the matter.

Members of the public were also advised to call 0262122086/ 024499564/ 024450001/ 191/ 18555 to liaise information on the incident to the police or walk to any nearest police state and report.  

 By Dede Akutu Adimer