One suspected illegal miner has died and another was injured after an armed confrontation during Operation GREEN SHIELD in the Atiwa Forest Reserve.
One suspected illegal miner has died and another was injured after an armed confrontation during Operation GREEN SHIELD in the Atiwa Forest Reserve.
Four people were arrested in the operation, including three Malian nationals and one Ghanaian. No personnel involved in the enforcement operation were injured.
After completing their primary objective, operatives from ASOB moved about 10 kilometres deeper into the forest to a second illegal mining site previously identified through drone surveillance. The foot patrol was conducted between 1100 and 1700 hours.
The operational account said the team came across approximately 50 suspected illegal miners working at the site. Some tried to escape when they saw the patrol, while others opened fire.
The operatives returned fire, killing one suspected illegal miner and injuring another. Four others were detained. Two pump-action guns and six rounds of ammunition were also seized.
First aid was given to the injured person at the scene before he was taken to Kyebi Government Hospital for further medical treatment.
The four arrested suspects were later handed over to the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) for further action.
The incident highlights the danger posed by armed resistance to personnel carrying out enforcement operations.
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