The National Anti-Illegal Mining Taskforce has struck Osino Community in Fanteakwa South, arresting 36 illegal miners, 32 of whom are Nigeriens.
Osino community is one of the hottest spots as far as illegal mining is concerned in Eastern Region.
The illegal miners mine in Birim river, homes, schools, around high voltage electricity poles, churches and near highways with impunity. They mostly operate at dawn.
The NAIMOS operations last night targeted these areas. Some tents and structures were set ablaze.
However, the taskforce force faced resistance early Saturday morning as thugs hired and armed with machetes and other dangerous implements mobilised and attempted to attack the taskforce to set free the suspect, but overpowered and arrested.
The suspects have been moved to Accra for immigration to continue investigation of the foreigners while the Ghanaians will be handled by the police.
A notorious miner and financier of the illegal mining activities is being pursued from his hide out.
One of the thugs beaten by taskforce has been taken to the hospital for medical attention.
The incident comes a day after Eastern Regional Secretariat of the National Security cautioned illegal miners and some youth allegedly being incited by their financiers and investors against attacking the Anti-Illegal Mining Taskforce and other allied agencies.
Addressing the media in Koforidua , the Regional Security Liaison Officer, Francis Annor Dompreh, said intelligence gathered by the National Security indicates that certain individuals and communities were planning to resist the operations of the taskforce.
READ: ESPA calls off planned strike as government moves to address payment arrears
He warned that any such attempts will be met with a firm response.
He gave the warning while addressing the media in Koforidua,stating that NAIMOS taskforce has resumed operations in mining areas across the region to clamp down on illegal mining activities.
“I am sounding this warning again and I’m advising our youths, this time around and in this region, we will not sit down. So far as we are concerned, so far as the security of the region is concerned, we will not sit down and concern and watch. So, if you are a youth and you want to mobilize and attack the security agencies, we will come and face you. We will match you squarely. We will match you with the level that you came with”.
He said the security agencies in the region will make sure that, the fight against illegal Mining becomes successful to protect the environment.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
