By Jones Anlimah
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Christian Tetteh Yohuno, has directed the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters to take over investigations into an attack on the Director of Operations of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) and his team by a mob at Hwidiem in the Ahafo Region.
According to a statement signed by the Director-General of Public Affairs, DCOP Grace Ansah-Akrofi, the directive follows preliminary findings that the team was attacked after arresting some illegal miners operating near Bronikrom in the Ahafo Region.
The statement revealed that the suspects were in possession of a Smith & Wesson pistol, two pistol magazines, twenty-one rounds of 9mm ammunition, an unregistered Range Rover and Toyota RAV4, as well as several mobile phones.
While preparing to hand over the suspects to the Hwidiem Police Station, the team reportedly faced interference from the Member of Parliament for Asutifi North, Hon. Ebenezer Kwaku Addo, who allegedly arrived at the scene with a group of men demanding the release of the suspects. When the request was denied, the group forcibly removed the handcuffs from the suspects and chased the NAIMOS team away.
Subsequently, a mob of about 600 people, reportedly incited by the MP, besieged the Hwidiem Police Station, demanding the release of the arrested miners and the seized vehicles. The mob vandalized the Director’s vehicle, damaged parts of the police station, and threatened to burn it down.
Police reinforcement teams from the Ahafo Regional Command, supported by the military, were deployed to restore order. Calm was eventually restored through the intervention of the Zongo Chief of Hwidiem, who also assisted in the safe evacuation of the NAIMOS team. The Chief’s vehicle was damaged in the process, but no casualties were recorded.
The Police Service has since invited Hon. Ebenezer Kwaku Addo to assist with ongoing investigations. Meanwhile, a special operation has been launched to track down and arrest all individuals involved in the attack.
The Ghana Police Service has strongly condemned the incident and cautioned the public against any form of interference with lawful security operations.
