Two suspected highway robbers were shot dead during a fierce gun battle with police personnel in the Upper East Region, while a police officer sustained injuries in the exchange.
The incident occurred on Sunday, April 26, 2026, during an intelligence-led operation by the Ashanti South Regional Police Command to recover weapons buried by a criminal gang allegedly responsible for several armed robberies on major highways.
Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, Ashanti South Regional Police Commander, DCOP Joseph Hammond Nyaaba, said the operation was triggered by intelligence that a key suspect, Sumaila Munkaila, also known as “Guda,” was hiding in Vitin, Tamale, in the Northern Region.
Police arrested the 37-year-old suspect on April 25. During interrogation, he reportedly confessed to involvement in multiple robberies, including a July 2025 attack on the convoy of His Excellency Pe Ditundini Adiali Ayagitam III, as well as recent roadblock robberies along the Buipe–Tamale and Vizesi–Fumbisi highways.
The suspect named four accomplices and led police to Savelugu, where another suspect, Umaro Musah, was arrested the same night.
The two suspects later guided a police team to a bush at Yizesi near Fumbisi in the Upper East Region, where the gang had buried weapons after their last operation.
However, while police were searching the area on April 26, unidentified gunmen opened fire from the bush, sparking a fierce exchange of gunfire.
In the shootout, the two suspects attempted to escape but sustained fatal gunshot wounds. A police officer was also injured in the process.
The injured suspects were rushed to the Tamale Government Hospital but were pronounced dead on arrival. Their bodies have been deposited at the Bekwai Municipal Hospital mortuary for preservation and autopsy.
Police recovered a cache of weapons from the scene, including a CZ 805 assault rifle loaded with 14 rounds of 5.56x39mm ammunition, an AK-47 rifle with 56 rounds of 7.62x39mm ammunition, a pump-action gun with six BB cartridges, a single-barreled gun, and four jackets.
DCOP Nyaaba indicated that investigations are ongoing, with efforts underway to arrest three other suspects identified as Tongude, Sumaila, and Berra.
He commended the officers involved for their professionalism and reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to fighting violent crime and restoring safety on the country’s highways.