The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Christian Tetteh Yohuno, has directed the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters to take over investigations into the attack on the Director of Operations of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) and his team by thugs at Hwidiem in the Ahafo Region.

In a statement, police narrated what happened, saying: "Preliminary investigation has established that on Saturday, November 1, 2025, the NAIMOS Director and his team intercepted illegal miners operating near Bronikrom in the Ahafo Region and arrested some suspects. Exhibits retrieved from them included a side-hang bag containing one Smith & Wesson pistol, two pistol magazines, 21 rounds of 9mm ammunition, an unregistered Range Rover vehicle, an unregistered Toyota RAV4 vehicle, and several mobile phones. While the team were preparing to hand over the suspects to the Hwidiem Police Station, the MP reportedly arrived with a group of men and demanded their release. When his demand was refused, the group forcibly removed the suspects' handcuffs and chased the NAIMOS team from the scene." 

"A mob numbering about 600, allegedly incited by the MP, later besieged the Hwidiem Police Station demanding the release of the miners and seized vehicles. The crowd vandalized the Director's vehicle, damaged parts of the police station, and threatened to set it ablaze. Reinforcement teams from the Ahafo Regional Command were deployed to restore order and prevent further destruction," the police narration continued.

"Calm was eventually restored through the joint efforts of the police, the military, and the Zongo Chief of Hwidiem, who helped mediate the situation and facilitate the safe evacuation of the NAIMOS team. The Chief's vehicle was damaged during the process, but no injuries were reported."

Police "strongly" condemned the attack, and noted a "caution against interference with law enforcement operations".

The statement noted the Member of Parliament (MP) for Asutifi North, Ebenezer Kwaku Addo, who is alleged to have incited the mob and obstructed the NAIMOS team, had been invited to assist ongoing investigation into the incident.

The statment concluded by emphasising, "A special operation has been launched to identify and arrest perpetrators to face the full rigours of the law."

Read: Speaker directs police to investigate attack on NAiMOS – Dela Edem