The Ghana Police Service foiled a planned armed robbery targeting three banks in the Labone area of Accra on August 13, 2026, killing two suspects and arresting a third in the process. The operation was announced in a statement posted to the police's official X account on the same day.
Intelligence Leads to Interception
According to the statement, officers received credible intelligence at about 10:45am that a criminal gang was preparing to simultaneously attack GCB Bank, Ecobank, and Zenith Bank, all situated in Labone. A police team was promptly dispatched to the area, where officers spotted members of the gang seated in two parked vehicles close to the targeted banks.
When the suspects noticed the officers approaching, one of the vehicles sped off in an attempt to flee, as reported by Punch. Police gave chase and apprehended one suspect, identified as Augustine Okechuku Maazi. A second occupant of the same vehicle managed to get away on foot.
Shootout and Casualties
The occupants of the second vehicle also attempted to flee but opened fire on the officers as they did so. Police returned fire in the ensuing shootout, and two suspects were killed. Their bodies were subsequently taken to a morgue for preservation, identification, and autopsy.
From the scene, police recovered two vehicles: a Toyota Highlander with registration number GS-1434-18 and a Hyundai Tucson with registration number GS 7915-17. A blow pistol was also found.
Investigation and Public Appeal
"Suspect Augustine Okechuku Maazi is in custody assisting the investigation while the bodies of the deceased suspects have been deposited at the morgue for preservation, identification and autopsy," the police statement said. The Ghana Police Service commended the response team for their swift action and urged the public to keep sharing credible information about criminal activity with law enforcement, as reported by Leadership.
In a related development, the Rivers State Police Command paraded 18 suspected criminals and displayed 47 recovered firearms following a two-month crackdown spanning June to August 2026. The State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, presented the arrested suspects alongside exhibits that included 12 stolen vehicles, 102 rounds of live ammunition, five live cartridges and 11 cutlasses.
