The Tema Regional Police Command on Monday thwarted an armed robbery attempt at Afienya-Mataheko, resulting in the death of four suspected robbers.

At a press briefing on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, the Head of Public Affairs of the Tema Regional Police Command, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Dede Dzakpasu, said the operation formed part of sustained efforts to dismantle a notorious robbery gang of about 15 members that has been terrorising Tema and its environs over the years.

ASP Dzakpasu said that on December 27, 2025, the police received intelligence that a group of ex-convicts were planning to carry out armed robbery attacks in the metropolis.

Based on the information, officers were deployed to the area and placed on surveillance.

She said in the early hours of December 29, at about 1:00 a.m., four suspects were spotted attempting to gain entry into a residential property at Afienya-Mataheko.

According to her, the suspects opened fire upon seeing the police, leading to an exchange of gunfire.

ASP Dzakpasu said three of the suspects, identified as Kwabena Azuwebi, alias Lastman, Yaro Bawku, and Faisal, were taken to the Police Hospital but were pronounced dead on arrival.

She added that the fourth suspect, Kassim Hussein, initially escaped after sustaining gunshot wounds but was later arrested.

He subsequently succumbed to his injuries while receiving medical treatment.

"It must be noted that the deceased robbers, Kwabena Azuwebi alias Lastman, Yaro Bawku, Faisal, and Kassim Hussein, have all been involved in a series of robberies within the region and have all been on the Police wanted list for their involvement in several robberies. It would be recalled that the deceased suspect, Kwabena Azuwebi, was recently granted a court bail in a robbery case after a long remand," she said. 

Police recovered an AK-47 rifle, a Taurus pistol loaded with six rounds of ammunition, two cutlasses, and two Royal motorbikes, one unregistered and the other bearing registration number M-25-GT-4243, believed to have been used by the suspects.

ASP Dzakpasu said all the exhibits had been retained by the police to aid further investigations.

She said the bodies of the deceased suspects had been deposited at the Police Hospital Mortuary pending autopsy, while investigations continued to identify possible accomplices and establish links to other criminal activities.

Present at the press briefing were senior police officers including Chief Superintendent Ferdinand Amengor, Tema Metro Divisional Commander; Superintendent Kwasi Kwarteng, Tema Regional Crime Officer; Chief Superintendent Isaac Forson, Tema Community One District Commander; DSP Gerhard Ekey, Tema Newtown District Commander; ASP Mark Yeboah, Tema Community Two District Commander; ASP Frances Martey, Tema Community Two District Crime Officer, and ASP Joseph Kyei-Mensah, FPU Commander.