The IGP’s Special Anti-Galamsey Taskforce came under attack today at Bonteso in the Ashanti Region after seizing an excavator from an illegal mining site near Manso Nkwanta.

The assailants, reportedly led by the local assembly member, pelted the team with stones in an attempt to prevent them from leaving the site.

The crowd, made up largely of community members, confronted the officers despite warning shots being fired to disperse them.

Leader of the team, ASP Bawah Abdul Jalil, and G/Sgt. Agblekpe Mawuena Yao sustained injuries during the confrontation.

The taskforce, however, managed to arrest the assembly member, Patrick Asare, along with two others — Osei Vasco and Akwesi Amponsah.

After a series of warning shots and targeted arrests, the officers regained control of the situation, dispersed the hostile crowd, and transported the seized excavator to the Manso Adubia Police Station.

The Manso area has long been notorious for rampant illegal mining, which has devastated farmlands and polluted local streams over the years.

They had to leave one excavator at the site due to the hostile situation.

The Manso area is noted for years of extreme illegal mining, destroying farmland and polluting streams there.