Three suspected robbers killed, two officers injured as police team comes under fire in Tilly Forest

A follow-up operation by the Upper East Regional Police Command to retrieve weapons allegedly concealed by a robbery gang in the Tilly Forest has ended in the death of three suspected robbers and injury of two police officers.

The Upper East Regional Police Command says the team went to the forest after some of the suspects led investigators to a place where they said the gang had hidden firearms.

On arrival, the team came under fire and three suspects who were with them were injured. The Police identified them as Amadu Apiiga, 33, Philip Vokbilla, 20, and Bilal Adabode, alias Sulley, whom they say led officers to the location.

They were taken to hospital but were pronounced dead on arrival.

The Police say other people believed to have been wounded in the gunfire fled the scene. Two officers were also injured and are receiving medical attention.

The operation follows the dismantling of a suspected gang linked to a series of attacks on motorbike riders and mobile money vendors in Benaba, Binduri, Pusiga, Garu, Zebilla and nearby communities.

The Police has also linked the gang to the killing of a police officer during a robbery attack at Zebilla on February 8, 2026.

After the operation, the Police retrieved two locally manufactured single-barrel guns, two pistols including a BRUNI 92, 11 rounds of 9mm ammunition, 18 live BB cartridges, three cutlasses, four unregistered Yamaha Aerox scooters, a pair of black boots, a motorbike number plate and two mobile phones.

Six other suspected members of the gang, arrested earlier, remain in custody and are helping with investigations. The Police say they are working to identify and arrest other members and to find out where the weapons came from.

The Command has appealed to the public to report anyone found with suspected gunshot wounds to the nearest police station, or to give information that could help investigators.