Police arrest suspect over GH¢430,000 robbery at Buipe cattle market

The Savannah Regional Police Command has arrested a suspect in connection with the robbery of two Mobile Money vendors at the Buipe Cattle Market, where armed robbers made away with GH¢430,000.

The robbery occurred on June 29, 2026, and prompted the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to deploy a special team from the Anti-Armed Robbery Unit to support the Savannah Regional Police Command in investigations.

According to police, preliminary investigations revealed that four armed men attacked the vendors at the market. The suspects, who were armed with two pump-action guns, a single-barrel gun and an AK-47 assault rifle, reportedly fired sporadically during the operation before escaping with the stolen money.

“Preliminary investigations established that four men, armed with two pump-action guns, one single-barrel gun and one AK-47 assault rifle, attacked the vendors and fired sporadically before escaping with their booty,” the police said.

Following weeks of intelligence-led operations and surveillance, police arrested 28-year-old Yacouba Oumar on July 23, 2026, at Soronuase in the Bono East Region. The operation was carried out by officers from the Anti-Armed Robbery Unit and the Police Intelligence Directorate with support from the Kintampo Divisional Police Command.

The police disclosed that “sustained surveillance by the Anti-Armed Robbery Unit and Police Intelligence Directorate, with support from the Kintampo Divisional Police Command, led to the arrest of suspect Yacouba Oumar, 28, at Soronuase in the Bono East Region.”

During interrogation, Oumar allegedly admitted his involvement in the robbery and identified his accomplices as Yakubu Seidu, also known as Baba; Abdulai Aziz Yahaya, known as Addo; and Abduli Buipe, also known as Addo.

Police said the suspect further disclosed that the robbery had been commissioned by a cattle trader at the Buipe market identified as Alhaji Yacouba, who is also known by the aliases Masaji, Muimen and Yakubu.

“He further disclosed that the group was contracted by a cattle trader in the Buipe market identified as Alhaji Yacouba, also known as Masaji, Muimen or Yakubu, to carry out the robbery,” the statement noted.

Investigations subsequently led police to several locations, including Atebubu, Soronuase, Agogo and Dawadawa, where members of the suspected robbery syndicate and weapons used in the operation were believed to be hiding.

According to the police, an exchange of gunfire occurred during efforts to apprehend the suspects. Three suspects — Yakubu Seidu, Abdulai Aziz Yahaya and Oumaro Amadu — were fatally wounded during the confrontation.

“An exchange of fire between the police and the suspects resulted in the death of suspects Yakubu Seidu, Abdulai Aziz Yahaya and Oumaro Amadu,” the police stated, adding that “the bodies have been deposited at the morgue for preservation and autopsy.”

Police also recovered one pump-action gun loaded with five live BB cartridges and a single-barrel gun believed to have been used in the robbery.

The statement said police “retrieved one pump-action gun and five live BB cartridges, and a single-barrel gun believed to have been used in the robbery.”

Yacouba Oumar remains in police custody and is assisting with ongoing investigations, while efforts continue to arrest other suspects linked to the crime.

“Suspect Yacouba Oumar remains in Police custody assisting investigations, while efforts are underway to arrest suspect Alhaji Yacouba and other persons connected to the robbery,” the police added.

The Savannah Regional Police Command has assured the public of its commitment to combating violent crime and bringing all persons involved in the Buipe cattle market robbery to justice.