Nine soldiers on national duty in Goaso, Ahafo Region, narrowly escaped being lynched by a mob of armed illegal miners (galamseyers) after they attempted to arrest them at an illegal mining site.
The soldiers reportedly discovered the illegal mining operation at Bronikrom near Hwidiem and moved in to apprehend the site owner. During the operation, they confiscated two vehicles, mobile phones, and two pistols, and also set ablaze some wooden structures and mining equipment belonging to the suspects.
Their actions angered hundreds of local residents—estimated to be over 600—who stormed the Hwidiem Police Station, where the soldiers had gone to lodge an official complaint. The mob demanded the release of the seized vehicles and insisted that the soldiers be handed over to them for “disciplinary action.”
The crowd reportedly vandalised a Toyota Hilux pickup (registration AD 7191-25) belonging to the NAIMOS team, smashing its windscreen.
Upon receiving information about the escalating situation, reinforcements were dispatched from the Regional Police Headquarters to restore order. When the team arrived, they found seven male and one female soldier taking refuge in the charge office, while two others were being protected by officers at the CID office.
Tensions continued to rise as the mob demanded the ignition keys of the confiscated vehicles. With darkness approaching and a power outage worsening the situation, security officials, together with Zongo Chief of Hwidiem, Zarikyi Mohammed Bashiru, agreed to release the vehicle keys to defuse the situation.
Chief Bashiru, who had earlier pleaded unsuccessfully with the mob to stay calm, offered his personal Toyota Sequoia 4×4 to help evacuate the soldiers to safety. However, during the rescue attempt, his vehicle was vandalised and its rear windscreen smashed.
Fortunately, no fatalities were recorded.
Source: MyNewsGh.com
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
0 Comments