Ghana police have arrested five people suspected of belonging to an armed robbery syndicate accused of attacking residents in the Upper West Region, authorities said Tuesday.

The suspects were arrested after months of intelligence-led operations targeting the gang, which police said had been operating in the Wa West District and Wa Municipality.

One of the suspects, Nasiru Abdul Rahman, 52, was injured during the operation and died on arrival at the Upper West Regional Hospital, police said.

The circumstances surrounding his injuries were not immediately clear.

His body was deposited at the hospital mortuary for preservation and autopsy, police said.

The police accused the syndicate of attacking and injuring victims with machetes before forcing them to disclose the PINs to their Mobile Money accounts.

Money was then allegedly transferred from the victims’ accounts to accounts controlled by the suspects, according to police.

Investigators have linked the group to several robbery incidents in the region, including attacks at Kpenateng Junction on August 1, Kulkpara Dapoha on June 19, Kpenateng Community on June 15 and Piisi Dapoha on March 27.

Police also listed an incident on May 23 but did not provide a clear location in their statement.

The incidents resulted in about GH¢22,070 being stolen directly from victims, while a further GH¢3,274 was allegedly transferred through Mobile Money accounts, police said.

Seven mobile phones recovered from the suspects are being examined as part of the investigation.

The arrested suspects are Amadu Moro, 35; Adama Yussif, 40; Iddrissu Adama, 35; Korika Issaka, 20; and Zakaria Brigi, 21.

Police said Yussif, Moro and the deceased Abdul Rahman were among the suspects linked to the robbery incidents.

Two other suspects remain at large.

They are Haruna, 30, whom police described as the gang’s armourer, and Amadu Mahamudu, 24, the son of Abdul Rahman.

The Upper West Regional Police Command said efforts were ongoing to locate and arrest the two suspects.

Regional Police Commander DCOP Francis Yiribaare urged residents, particularly those in affected communities, to remain vigilant and report suspicious persons and activities.

He also appealed for credible information that could help police locate the two suspects still at large and prevent further attacks.