Two suspected highway armed robbers, who were part of a gang, were killed on Wednesday dawn following a gun battle with security forces, police in Ashanti Region have said.

The gang of five, according to police, had attempted to attack a gold dealer.

The three other armed robbers escaped.

Briefing the press on the incident, Deputy Ashanti Region Police Commander, ACP Ampofo Duku, said the “Police had intelligence that, the armed robbers numbering about five had planned to attack a gold dealer at Manso Nkwanta on the said date.”

He said police laid an ambush at the said spot that the armed robbers had planned to carry out their operation and “whiles at the spot, the five armed robbers emerged, with two of them wielding pump-action guns and a locally manufactured pistol waiting for the victim to approach.”

Suspecting the presence of the police at the scene, the robbers started shooting into the direction of the Police.

“Police also returned fire resulting in the instant death of two of the suspects,” ACP Ampofo Duku explained.

The bodies of the deceased robbers have been deposited at the Agroyesum hospital morgue.

In a separate incident, six other robbers were also arrested on the Ejura-Mampong Highway later the same day.