Violent Armed Robbery Spree in Agona East Leaves Mobile Money Agents Shot and Motorists Robbed

A series of violent armed robberies on Sunday evening, July 26, across the Agona East District of the Central Region has left several people injured and sparked widespread fear among residents. The coordinated attacks, reportedly carried out by a six-member gang, targeted mobile money vendors in Mankrong Nkwanta and Agona Swedru before culminating in a highway roadblock where motorists were robbed at gunpoint. The brazen nature of the attacks, which occurred during the early evening hours, has led to urgent demands for a heightened security presence in the region.

In Mankrong Nkwanta, the gunmen opened fire indiscriminately around 7:00 p.m., targeting operators near a local filling station and causing residents to flee for safety. During the rampage, one mobile money vendor was shot from a distance, while another man was shot in the leg inside his own home. Simultaneously, in Agona Swedru, 32-year-old mobile money agent Eric Barns was shot in the stomach at his shop. Barns was initially treated at the Agona Swedru Municipal Hospital but was later transferred to the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital for specialist care due to the severity of his injuries.

Following the initial attacks, the suspects successfully evaded local police and moved to the Mankrong Nkwanta–Bawjiase Highway, where they mounted a roadblock. The gang intercepted multiple vehicles, robbing passengers of an undisclosed amount of cash and personal valuables. Eyewitnesses reported that staff at a nearby filling station narrowly escaped the gang by fleeing just as the gunmen approached. While the Ghana Police Service responded to distress calls, the perpetrators managed to escape the scene before they could be apprehended.

The surge in violence has prompted an outcry from local residents and mobile money operators who feel increasingly vulnerable to targeted attacks. Community members have expressed frustration over the perceived inadequacy of police resources, calling for the Ghana Police Service to provide better equipment and more personnel to the local stations. Authorities are currently investigating the incidents and have appealed to the public to come forward with any information that could assist in identifying and capturing the six-member gang responsible for the crime spree.