By Issah Olegor
The Police yesterday foiled what the police service describes as a planned robbery operation targeting three major banks in the Labone area of Accra, killing two suspected members of the robbery syndicate and arresting another.
The latest Police account provides further details on the operation, which occurred on Thursday, August 13, 2026, and follows earlier reports of a security incident in the Labone area that had initially been linked to a GCB Bank branch.
According to the Police, the operation was based on intelligence received at about 10:45 a.m. that a gang of suspected robbers was preparing to attack GCB Bank, Ecobank and Zenith Bank, all located in the Labone area.
Acting swiftly on the intelligence, the Police deployed a response team to Labone to intercept the suspected criminals before they could execute the planned attacks.
Suspects spotted near banks
Upon arriving in the area, the Police said the suspected gang members were spotted in vehicles parked close to the banks they were allegedly preparing to attack.
The Police intervention reportedly triggered an attempt by the suspects to flee the area.
One of the vehicles allegedly sped away after its occupants noticed the presence of the Police. Officers pursued the vehicle and succeeded in arresting one of the occupants, identified as Augustine Okechuku Maazi, believed to be a Nigerian.
Another occupant of the vehicle, however, managed to escape and remained at large as investigations continued.
The Police said the occupants of a second vehicle also attempted to escape, but their getaway was accompanied by gunfire.
Gun Battle
According to the Police, the second group of suspects opened fire while attempting to flee, leading to an exchange of gunfire between the suspects and the Police.
The confrontation resulted in the deaths of two suspected members of the robbery syndicate.
The Police have not yet released the identities of the two deceased suspects. Their bodies have subsequently been deposited at the Police Hospital morgue for preservation, identification and autopsy.
The circumstances surrounding the shooting are expected to form part of the ongoing investigation, including the weapons allegedly used by the suspects and the sequence of events that led to the fatal confrontation.
2 vehicles and pistol recovered
Following the operation, the Police recovered two vehicles allegedly connected to the suspected robbery operation.
The vehicles are a Toyota Highlander with registration number GS-1434-18 and a Hyundai Tucson bearing registration number GS-7915-17.
A pistol was also recovered from the scene.
The Police are expected to examine the vehicles and weapon as part of efforts to establish the identities of the suspects, determine their movements and establish whether the group has links to other robbery operations.
The arrested suspect, Augustine Okechuku Maazi, is currently in Police custody and is assisting investigators with the ongoing probe.
Authorities are expected to use information obtained from him, alongside evidence recovered from the vehicles and crime scene, to establish the full membership and activities of the suspected robbery syndicate.
Investigators will also be seeking to identify the suspect who escaped during the Police pursuit and determine whether additional members of the alleged gang remain at large.
The Ghana Police Service has commended the response team for successfully preventing what it described as a planned robbery attempt.
GCB clarifies earlier reports
The development comes after GCB Bank issued a clarification distancing its Labone Branch from earlier reports suggesting that the bank itself had been targeted.
GCB stated that no robbery or attempted robbery took place at its Labone Branch or on its premises, adding that the branch was not breached and that no customer, staff member, funds or property belonging to the bank was affected.
The Police’s latest statement, however, provides a broader picture of the intelligence-led operation, stating that the suspected gang was allegedly preparing to attack three banks in the Labone area, including GCB, Ecobank and Zenith Bank.
The distinction is important because the Police are describing a planned attack on banks in the Labone area, while GCB maintains that its own branch was not breached or attacked.
