Manso Keniago residents clash with NAIMOS task force leaving three dead

Three people have been confirmed dead and at least 13 others injured following a violent confrontation between residents of Manso Keniago and personnel from the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS). The clash occurred on Wednesday in the Manso Keniago area of the Ashanti Region during an operation to relocate mining equipment seized by the state task force. The casualties include three fatalities among the community members and gunshot injuries sustained by two NAIMOS officers.

Tensions reportedly escalated when the NAIMOS team attempted to transport confiscated excavators directly on the community's tarred roads. Local leaders, including the chief, Nana Obeng Mensah Ababio, reportedly intervened to request that the task force use low-bed trailers to transport the heavy machinery to prevent road damage. Residents allege that the task force refused this request, leading to a standoff. Community members further claim that the task force assaulted their chief and fired shots at his vehicle, which triggered a more aggressive response from the locals.

NAIMOS has presented a different account, stating that their personnel were attacked by an "armed mob" that blocked the road and pelted their vehicles with stones, causing significant damage. The Secretariat maintained that its officers were forced to fire warning shots to deter the crowd after two of their own personnel were shot and wounded. The Assembly Member for the area, Charles Oduro, described the scene as distressing, noting that the intervention of the police was required to restore a measure of order, though injuries continued to mount during the chaos.

The injured are currently receiving emergency treatment at Keniago Hospital and St Martin’s Hospital. While NAIMOS has condemned the resistance and reaffirmed its commitment to the fight against illegal mining despite the aggression, community leaders are demanding a thorough investigation into the incident. They have appealed directly to President John Mahama and other national authorities to ensure justice for the victims and to provide support for the families of the deceased.