Tensions soared in the Atebubu Amantin Municipality of the Bono East Region when a group of drivers stormed the local police station on the night of Friday, January 10, following the brutal killing of a 75-year-old driver by suspected armed robbers.

The drivers, already frustrated by the growing number of robberies in the area, accused the police of neglecting their duty to ensure their safety.

In the heat of their protest, a police vehicle was damaged, escalating an already volatile situation.

The tragic incident occurred around 10 p.m. along the Atebubu-Amantin road, a route that has become notorious for frequent robbery attacks. The murder was just the latest in a series of violent incidents targeting drivers in the area.

Many drivers, shaken by the constant threat of armed robbery, voiced their concerns. “We’re going through a lot here in Atebubu,” one driver lamented. “Armed robbers attack us almost every day, even when we’re going to our farms. We don’t understand what the police are doing about it.”

Following the latest killing, the drivers took immediate action by storming the local police station, demanding that the authorities do more to protect them.

“We spend most of our time on the road, yet the police do nothing to ensure our safety,” another driver expressed.

The Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) seems more focused on stopping us to collect fines than preventing these attacks. There are over ten police checkpoints along this route, but at night, they abandon their posts, leaving us vulnerable to robberies. We see no benefit from their presence", one driver angrily said.

Fed up with the inaction, the drivers decided to strike, refusing to work until their concerns were addressed.

The Atebubu Amantin Ghana Private Road Transport Union(GPRTU) secretary George Mensah, echoed the drivers' frustration, saying, “These robbers are bold enough to strike in broad daylight. In the last months, six drivers have been killed. We’ve all agreed that we will not work until something is done to stop this.”

The drivers' strike caused major disruptions, with many passengers left stranded.

One such passenger, speaking to Joy News, said: “This morning, we couldn’t find any cars. When we asked, we were told that robbers were controlling the streets. A driver was killed, and his body is now in the morgue. We are pleading with the government to send more security personnel to help curb these robberies here in Atebubu Amantin.”

The situation was finally defused with the intervention of military personnel, who helped restore order. However, the tensions remain high.

The drivers have made it clear that they will not return to work until their safety is guaranteed and the authorities take more effective action to tackle the rising wave of armed robbery in Atebubu Amantin.