According to reports from the Ghana Police Service, officers on night patrol responded to a distress call from residents who noticed suspicious activity around a popular wholesale distribution shop in the area.
Upon arrival, the police encountered a group of armed men attempting to flee the scene after allegedly breaking into the premises.
The suspects, believed to have been armed with locally manufactured pistols and machetes, reportedly opened fire on the police in a bid to escape.
In the exchange that followed, three of the suspects were fatally shot, while the others managed to flee under the cover of darkness.
The wholesale shop, which supplies provisions and fast-moving consumer goods to several retailers in the municipality, had its security system damaged, and several cartons of goods were found packed and ready to be moved when officers arrived.
Eyewitnesses in the area described the scene as terrifying.
“We heard gunshots around 2 a.m. and were afraid to even peek through our windows,” said Kwame Asiedu, a resident whose house is located near the crime scene.
“When we came out at dawn, we saw the police and the bodies of the suspects lying close to the shop.”
A preliminary investigation by the police indicates that the group may be connected to a string of recent robberies in Accra’s western corridor.
Items recovered at the scene included two pistols, spent cartridges, face masks, gloves, and a crowbar suspected to have been used to break into the shop.
The bodies of the deceased have been deposited at the Police Hospital morgue for identification and autopsy. The police have assured the public that they are working around the clock to apprehend the remaining members of the gang.
“We will not relent in our efforts to rid communities of criminal elements,” a police spokesperson said.
“We urge the public to report suspicious activity promptly and continue cooperating with law enforcement.”
Meanwhile, the owners of the targeted shop are assisting with investigations and assessing the extent of the damage and losses incurred.