Police arrests two for robbing Mobile Money vendor at Taifa Burkina

The Greater Accra Regional Police Command has arrested two persons who reportedly robbed a mobile money vendor around Taifa-Burkina, a suburb of Accra.

The robbers, who were chased and knocked down by a driver had earlier made away with some money and fired shots at the occupant of the car.

Speaking to Citi News, the Accra Regional Police Public Relation Officers (PRO), DSP Efia Tenge said a weapon has been retrieved, and investigation shave commenced into the incident.

“This morning around 8:45 am, two men on a motorbike and armed with a pistol, attacked a mobile money vendor at Taifa Burkina. In the process, they were able to rob the owner some amount of money but he also chased them with a vehicle and eventually knocked them down. One of them fell and the rider escaped amidst firing. With the support of the neighbourhood and the Police, who were also around at that time was able to arrest the two of them.”

“They two of them are seriously injured and the weapons have also been retrieved together with the bag that they robbed from the complainant. The police have began investigations and so far into the incident and we are going to wage a war on these motorbikes that are used to commit all sort of crimes in the Metropolis”, she added.

Lax security of Mobile money merchants

Mobile money merchants around the country are known to lack adequate security despite the significant amounts of cash they handle.

Mobile money agents increased from 136,000 in 2016 to 194,000 in 2017 and they have been calling for increased security.

But limited police presence makes this impossible.

In Accra for example, after a spate of attacks on vendors, the Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP George Alex Mensah, admitted that it was impossible for his outfit to provide adequate security for every mobile money business.

“They spring out at any corner and these armed robbers are just making meat out of them so it is a worry for the Police Service… We have scheduled a meeting with the telecom if we can discuss how best we can at least make sure anybody who is going to set up this money business will have a secure environment. Some of these are even operating on bicycles and these are easy prey for armed robbers,” he commented.