IGP Orders CID Headquarters to Probe Attack on NAIMOS Director at Hwidiem — Asutifi North MP Invited for Questioning

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

The directive follows an incident that occurred on Saturday, November 1, 2025, when the NAIMOS Director and his team were attacked by a group of thugs after intercepting suspected illegal miners operating near Bronikrom.

Preliminary investigations reveal that the team had arrested several suspects and seized key exhibits, including:

• One (1) Smith & Wesson pistol
• Two (2) pistol magazines
• Twenty-one (21) rounds of 9mm ammunition
• An unregistered Range Rover vehicle
• An unregistered Toyota RAV4 vehicle
• Several mobile phones

While preparing to hand the suspects over to the Hwidiem Police Station, the Member of Parliament for Asutifi North, Hon. Ebenezer Kwaku Addo, reportedly arrived at the scene with a group of men and demanded the release of the suspects. When his demand was denied, the group allegedly forcibly removed the handcuffs from the suspects and chased the NAIMOS team away.

The situation escalated later in the day as a mob of about 600 people, allegedly incited by the MP, besieged the Hwidiem Police Station demanding the release of the detained miners and seized vehicles. The crowd reportedly vandalized the Director’s vehicle, damaged parts of the police station, and threatened to burn it down.

Security reinforcements from the Ahafo Regional Command, supported by the military, were swiftly deployed to restore order. The Zongo Chief of Hwidiem also intervened to mediate the situation and ensure the safe evacuation of the NAIMOS team. Although the Chief’s vehicle was damaged during the process, no injuries were recorded.

The Ghana Police Service has strongly condemned the attack and cautioned the public against obstructing law enforcement operations. A special operation has since been launched to identify and arrest all perpetrators involved in the incident.

Meanwhile, the Asutifi North MP, Hon. Ebenezer Kwaku Addo, has been invited by the CID Headquarters to assist in the ongoing investigations.