The first half of 2021 has recorded 4 bullion van attacks.

Checks reveal that in 3 of the incidents, the robbers bolted away with the cash on board the vehicles.

In two of the cases, the police officers escorting the van lost their lives

Analysis

January

  • On January 18, some highway robbers numbering about 10, attacked a bullion van travelling on a section of the Adansi Fomena road in the Ashanti Region and an amount of GHC500,000 was stolen.
  • Sources indicate that the van, with registration number GT 543-19, was attacked around 10:30 AM on the Adansi Fomena Road.
  • The driver of the vehicle survived while the police officer escorting the van was killed, His AK47 assault rifle was stolen.

March

  • In broad day light on March 1, a bullion van belonging to a popular bank was robbed on the Spintex Road at Baatsona near the Danpong Hospital by some armed men numbering about 4 according to eyewitnesses.
  • Sources say that the incident happened around 3:30 PM.
  • Around the said time, a Black Toyota Camry overtook the van and blocked its way. An occupant of the Camry immediately came down and gave a warning shot into the air.
  • The driver of the bullion van and one official from the bank escaped while the escorting police officer was assaulted by the robbers.
  • The robbers broke into the van and escaped with the money.

June

  • The month of June though hasn’t ended, has recorded two bullion van attacks in a span of 3 days.
  • The first incident happened on June 14. A bullion van was attacked at Adedenkpo near James Town in Accra.
  • A young police officer escorting the van and a woman were killed. The driver of the vehicle sustained serious injuries and the robbers bolted with the money.
  • The second attack happened on June 17. Passengers in a bullion Van with registration number GN 6956- 17 were attacked on the Winneba-Accra highway.
  • The unknown assailants shot at the van at the Okyereko and Dominase portion of the Winneba-Accra stretch.
  • Aside the driver, the van was occupied by two policemen with an amount of ¢550,000 on board.
  • Fortunately for them, they escaped the gunshots and were rescued by the Winneba Divisional Police who escorted them back to Accra.