Five men have been arrested in the Western North Region after they dressed up as National Security operatives and robbed a mining site in broad daylight.
The suspects were picked up on April 2 around 6 p.m. following a tip-off from residents. Police say the group had been moving through communities near Suiaboi, including mining areas, demanding documents from workers and seizing property while pretending to be on official duty.
They were caught in Dadieso after locals grew suspicious and alerted the authorities. The men were driving a rented Toyota Hilux with registration number GX 1095-19.The suspects are Amponsah Asare Wagan, 33; Nelson Agbodzah, 28; Awedagah Norbert, 27; Francis Brefo, 35; and Benjamin Boakye, 48, who was behind the wheel.During questioning, some tried to bluff their way out.
Amponsah Asare Wagan claimed he was a medical doctor and the son of a top security official. Others said they worked with National Security at the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council or with NADMO. Police have since confirmed that at least two of them are unemployed and have no connection to any security agency.Investigations revealed the operation was carefully planned in Kumasi. Amponsah allegedly gathered the group under the excuse of gathering intelligence in Bibiani, then redirected them to the Suiaboi mining site.
Once there, they damaged equipment, broke into workers’ rooms, and made off with mobile phones and GH¢2,000 in cash.A search of their vehicle turned up stolen items including two car batteries, three water pumping machines, a starter motor, a hose, part of an excavator, five mobile phones, a bunch of keys, a live AA cartridge, and a pair of military camouflage trousers.
Amponsah later confessed that a former employee of the mining site, known only as Yaw, had hired him to “expose” his old boss.The suspects have been moved to Dadieso Police Station for further investigations and will soon appear in court.Regional Police Commander DCOP Dr Francis Kwame Tsidi warned that impersonating security personnel to commit crime will not be tolerated.
He urged the public to stay alert and report any suspicious activity immediately.The quick arrest has brought relief to mining communities in the area, where such fake operations had been causing fear.