AT least three people have been confirmed dead following a confrontation between local residents and personnel of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) at Manso Keniago in the Amansie South District of the Ashanti Region.
The violent clash erupted on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, after a NAIMOS task force attempted to transport seized excavators away from the community following an anti-illegal mining operation.
The tragic escalation also left two security operatives wounded, property damaged, and local traditional leaders forced into hiding.
According to local accounts, tensions flared when residents and traditional leaders challenged the security team’s decision to drive the heavy-duty machinery directly along a tarred road rather than transport it on a low-bed truck, fearing that the road would be damaged.
The dispute quickly escalated into a violent confrontation. The Chief of Dome Keniago, Nana Obeng Mensah Ababio, was reportedly assaulted after attempting to intervene and prevent the personnel from moving the excavator along the road.
Speaking to local media from a hideout, the chief stated that officers fired warning shots in an attempt to disperse the crowd and prevent further escalation. He said the incident had thrown the community into extreme fear and panic, alleging that his life had been threatened.
The Assembly Member for the Dome Keniago Electoral Area, Charles Oduro, also reported fleeing for his safety as the situation deteriorated. He confirmed that security personnel fired multiple shots during the melee, making it dangerous for residents to venture outdoors.
In an official statement addressing the incident, the Secretariat stated that its personnel encountered an armed mob which attempted to obstruct the movement of the seized equipment.
However, it confirmed that two NAIMOS personnel sustained gunshot wounds during the incident, which also claimed the lives of three civilians who were yet to be identified.
Strongly condemning the attack, NAIMOS cautioned individuals and groups against obstructing its personnel in the discharge of their duties.
Meanwhile, in the wake of the tragedy, distressed residents have urgently appealed to President John Dramani Mahama, the Inspector-General of Police and other state authorities to launch an immediate and independent inquiry into the incident.
FROM KINGSLEY E. HOPE, KUMASI
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