Two notorious robbers shot dead in Offinso

Two suspected armed robbers believed to be behind a string of violent robberies and killings in the Ashanti Region have been gunned down by the police.

The incident occurred during a targeted intelligence-led operation at Offinso in the Ashanti North Region.

The deceased, identified as Osman Majid Abdul Sadik, also known as Cross (25), and Abdulai Sadik (20), were reportedly part of a notorious gang that had been terrorising communities in Mankranso and its adjoining areas. Their deaths followed a fierce exchange of gunfire after police stormed their hideouts in an early-morning swoop.

According to a statement from the Ashanti South Regional Police Command, the two suspects had been on the radar of law enforcement for months following multiple reports of robberies, murders, and attacks on travellers. Acting on credible intelligence, a team of officers launched a coordinated operation targeting three identified hideouts around Offinso Anyankaso, believed to be the gang’s base.

During the operation, officers said suspect Cross fired from his room and attempted to escape through the ceiling. Police returned fire, subduing the suspects in a brief but intense gun battle. Both sustained gunshot wounds and were rushed to the Bekwai Municipal Hospital, where they were later pronounced dead.

A search at the crime scene uncovered a significant cache of weapons and items linked to criminal activity. Among them were a pump-action gun loaded with six rounds, a black Smith & Wesson pistol, 50 rounds of 9mm ammunition, an unmarked pistol, two spent cartridges, three smartphones, two keypad phones, a machete, body armour, GH¢2,680 in cash, and various personal belongings. Police also retrieved a Ghana Card bearing the name Osman Majid with the image of suspect Cross.

Before his death, Cross reportedly admitted to his involvement in several armed robberies in Manso and confessed to killing three people at Mankranso. He further named his accomplices as Kingkong, Roy, Fii, Raph, Koboo, Ali, and Ike, claiming some of the gang’s weapons were hidden at a mining site in Manso.

The Ashanti Regional Police have launched a full-scale manhunt for the remaining suspects and are working to recover the hidden weapons. Investigators believe the gang has links to several unresolved robbery and homicide cases in the region.

The police have assured the public of continued operations to clamp down on criminal gangs and restore calm in affected areas. Residents have also been urged to cooperate with security agencies by providing timely information that could lead to further arrests.