Manso Keniago Chief challenges NAIMOS to prove alleged shooting that killed six

The Chief of Manso Keniago in the Amansie West District has challenged the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) to provide evidence of the alleged attack on its men that warranted a reprisal attack on the community.

The clash between operatives of the task force and the community has left six people dead and several others, including a toddler, injured.

According to the community, the sporadic shooting by NAIMOS was unprovoked, contrary to claims by the anti-illegal mining task force.

The streets of Manso Keniago are engulfed in grief and anger. Residents, many clad in black and red, upon hearing that the death toll had increased to six, mourned while the youth were agitated and openly hostile.

According to the community, the military started shooting sporadically after traditional authorities attempted to stop them from tracking an excavator confiscated by NAIMOS on a newly tarred road.

The Chief, Nana Obeng Mensah Ababio, explains that some of the deceased were shot in their homes.

He explained that some victims were killed while fleeing or even while indoors.

"Here are pellets from the rifles they shot. I have handed some to the police. The young lady they killed was in the bathroom when the NAIMOS operatives went in to shoot her. Another victim is a male who operates a food joint. They killed him as he was running from his food joint," he said.

Nana Mensah Ababio further disputed claims that the community mobilized to attack the task force at the site of an excavator, insisting the engagement was only between himself and some chiefs.

"They did not go to the excavator. It was only me and the chiefs, and it was filmed. If government wants the truth, they should ask NAIMOS to release the drone footage. They filmed everything," he added.

The community further insists the operatives did not come under attack to warrant the shooting and says pictures of a vehicle riddled with bullets, allegedly shot at by the community, are untrue.

It took police intervention to stop angry youth from attacking the District Chief Executive, Benjamin Marfo, who they claim failed to come to their aid during the shooting.

Calls for an independent investigation into the matter have heightened. Aside from calling for an investigation, the Manso Adubia NDC is demanding that NAIMOS be withdrawn pending the outcome of the investigation.