A clash involving residents of Manso Keniago in the Amansie South District of the Ashanti Region and personnel of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has resulted in the deaths of four people and injuries to 15 others.

According to earlier reports by NAIMOS two of its personnel sustained gunshot wounds during a confrontation with an armed group. The officers came under attack while escorting excavators seized during an operation against illegal mining to a designated site for safekeeping.

But addressing the media on Wednesday, November 11, the area’s Assembly Member, Charles Oduro, disclosed that he had not personally witnessed any cases of NAIMOS personnel being injured.

“Some are from there, and others from Keniago, and others from different communities.Even the police came to intervene, to let the NAIMOS people calm down, so that they take the right turn to convey the excavator. But even one police officer was hit by one of the NAIMOS,” he said.

The latest incident comes amid previous reports of attacks on NAIMOS personnel during anti-illegal mining operations. Last year, officials of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat narrowly escaped death in a mob assault at Hwediem in the Ahafo Region.

The officials came under violent attack while carrying out their day-to-day activities as part of efforts to crack down on illegal mining in the Ahafo Region.

The operation resulted in the arrest of several miners, including a Burkinabe national. Locals were seen in a video that has since gone viral confronting the anti-mining task force and calling for the release of those arrested during the operation.

Speaking to the media, NAIMOS spokesperson, Paa Kwesi Schandorf, described the attack as “extremely and profoundly disappointing,” adding, “It was a huge surprise that the locals became agitated, demanding the release of those arrested, and then began attacking the NAIMOS team.”

According to him, the officials “survived clearly by the mercy of God. If you look at how they were charged, the rest of the team could have lost their lives.”

Meanwhile, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Asutifi North, Ebenezer Kwaku Addo, has been accused of inciting the mob against the NAIMOS team.

Last month, NAIMOS stormed the Offin Shelterbelt Forest Reserve in the Ashanti Region, where it targeted and destroyed makeshift camps set up in the forest. Recently, the task force also carried out several raids in the Apemkro and Anwiafutu areas, pulling down mining camps that were damaging the forest in the hunt for gold.

In their latest mission at Ataso, the team seized two excavators and destroyed water pumps and other tools used for illegal mining activities. Unfortunately, the illegal miners managed to flee the area before their arrest.

NAIMOS has also destroyed a well-known illegal mining base at Aboso in the Western Region, referred to as 'Gunway.' 'Gunway' is a neighbourhood known for harboring hardened illegal miners. It was raided through an intense intelligence-led operation on Monday, October 5, 2025.

The operation resulted in the demolition of several makeshift structures that served as drug dens and hideouts within the crime-infested enclave at Aboso in the Prestea-Huni Valley District.

Beyond the demolition, the task force confiscated multiple pieces of mining equipment used for illicit operations that have been destroying the environment.

During the raid, some residents engaged in illegal mining, gambling, drug use, and narcotics trading surrendered to NAIMOS officers on site. Authorities also recovered quantities of hard drugs from the suspects, including seven parcels of Indian hemp.