Four young men allegedly hired from Koforidua by a miner to attack members of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Taskforce (NAIMOS) have been overpowered, beaten, and arrested at Akyem Osino in the Fanteakwa South District of the Eastern Region.
One of the suspects, who sustained injuries during the confrontation, has been hospitalized.
The incident occurred early Saturday morning when the taskforce launched a massive operation to clamp down on illegal mining activities in the Osino area — one of the most notorious galamsey hotspots in the Eastern Region.
According to officials, the operation targeted sites where illegal miners had been operating with impunity — including areas along the Birim River, near homes, schools, churches, highways, and even beneath high-voltage electricity poles.
During the raid, several makeshift tents and mining structures were set ablaze.
In total, 36 suspected illegal miners were arrested, including 32 Nigeriens.
The foreign nationals have since been transferred to Accra for further investigations by the Ghana Immigration Service, while the Ghanaian suspects are being handled by the police.
The confrontation comes barely a day after the Eastern Regional Secretariat of the National Security issued a stern warning to illegal miners and youth groups allegedly being incited by their financiers to attack security personnel enforcing the ban on illegal mining.
Few days earlier, the Eastern Regional Security Liaison Officer, Francis Annor Dompreh, said intelligence gathered by National Security indicated plans by some individuals and communities to resist operations of the taskforce.
“I am sounding this warning again and I’m advising our youths — we will not sit down and watch. If you want to mobilize and attack the security agencies, we will come and face you. We will match you squarely,” he warned.
Mr. Dompreh emphasized that security agencies in the region are determined to ensure that the fight against illegal mining succeeds to protect the environment and safeguard lives.
Meanwhile, NAIMOS operations are expected to continue in other parts of the region as part of the renewed nationwide anti-galamsey campaign.
Source:iMybrytfmonline.com
