Ahafo Hwidiem NAIMOS Attack: Police invite MP for Asutifi North

Mr. Christian  Tetteh Yohuno, the IGP has instructed  the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters to take over investigations of the Director of Operations of the  National Anti- illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) and his team by a group of attackers at Hwidrom in the Ahafo District.

As per a statement released by the police, the incident took place on Saturday November 4, and it was said to have involved Ebenezer Kwaku Addo, the Member of Parliament (MP). He said to have motivated a lot of people and interfered with the team from NAIMOS during the operations of the anti-illegal mining. The police has invited the Member of Parliament so that he can assist with the investigation.

Initial findings show that the director of NAIMOS and his team had arrested a group of people who engaged in illegal mining near Bronikrom. National Anti- illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) seized items such as two pistol magazines, Smith and Wesson pistol, twenty-one rounds of 9mm ammunition, an unregistered Toyota RAV4 and an unregistered Range Rover.

As they were preparing to hand the suspects over to the Hwidiem Police Station, Ebenezer Kwaku Addo reportedly arrived with a group of individuals who insisted they that they must be set free. When the team refused, a group of individuals was said to have removed the handcuffs of the suspect and forced the officials to vacate the area.

A crowd of about 600 people, reportedly gathered by the MP came to the Hwidiem Police Stationinsi calling for the release of the arrested individuals and the seized vehicles. The Director’s vehicle was damamge by the mob and also destroyed some parts of the police station and even threatened to burn it down.

The Ahafo Regional Command police reinforcements were quickly sent to bring the situation under control  and prevent further destruction. After some time, peace was finally brought back through the combined efforts of the police, the military, and the Zongo Chief of Hwidiem, who helped resolve the situation peacefully as well as the secure evacuation of the NAIMOS team. The Chief’s vehicle was damaged in the process, but fortunately, no one was hurt.

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