Upper East Police Nab Notorious Masked Armed Robber and Accomplice in Bolgatanga

A suspected armed robber who allegedly terrorised residents of Bolgatanga while wearing a face mask has been arrested alongside his alleged accomplice in an intelligence-led operation by the Upper East Regional Police Command, authorities said on Thursday.

The suspect, identified as 26-year-old Jeffrey Alentis, was apprehended at his hideout in Zorbisi, a suburb of Bolgatanga, after a brazen early-morning attack on a woman in the neighbouring community of Zaare on Tuesday, June 16. His alleged accomplice, Moro Mohammed, was arrested shortly after Alentis reportedly led investigators to him.

How the Robbery Unfolded

According to a police statement signed by Chief Inspector Abdul-Rahman Sumaila, the Upper East Regional Public Relations Officer, the attack took place at approximately 4:00 a.m. when the masked suspect scaled the perimeter wall of a residential property in Zaare and gained entry to the victim’s room through the kitchen.

The suspect allegedly assaulted the woman with pepper spray before making off with a laptop computer and a Samsung Galaxy A07 mobile phone. In a further act of intimidation, the attacker reportedly forced the victim to reveal her mobile phone password and mobile money personal identification number before fleeing the scene.

The robbery added to growing concerns among residents about the safety of homes in Bolgatanga and its surrounding suburbs, where cases of night-time break-ins have been on the rise in recent months.

Swift Police Response

Acting on intelligence gathered in the immediate aftermath of the attack, police operatives tracked Alentis to his hiding place in Zorbisi. During questioning, the suspect is said to have led officers to Moro Mohammed, where all stolen items, including the laptop and the mobile phone, were successfully recovered.

Both men are currently in police custody and are assisting with further investigations. The Upper East Regional Police Command has assured the public that the suspects will be arraigned before court once the investigation is concluded.

In its statement, the police service reiterated its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of residents across the region and called on citizens to continue cooperating with law enforcement by reporting suspicious activity promptly.

A Broader Pattern

The arrest comes amid heightened vigilance by security agencies in the Upper East Region, where recent cases have highlighted the challenges of maintaining public safety in growing urban peripheries. Residents of Bolgatanga have long urged the police command to increase patrols in outlying suburbs, where limited street lighting and sparse security presence have made homes attractive targets for criminals operating under cover of darkness.

While the swift recovery of the stolen property has been welcomed, community leaders in Zaare say the incident underscores the need for a more sustained approach to neighbourhood security, including better lighting infrastructure and closer collaboration between residents and local police stations.

The police have encouraged anyone with information related to the activities of the suspects to come forward and assist with the ongoing investigation.

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