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Hwidiem in the Ahafo Region descended into chaos on Saturday, November 1, 2025, when an angry mob attacked members of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) at the Hwidiem Police Station following the arrest of two suspected illegal miners.
According to a police report, the incident occurred around 2:30 p.m. after Colonel Dominic Buah, Head of NAIMOS, led a team of nine military officers to the station with two suspects, identified as Zakaria and Kwame Alex, apprehended at an illegal mining site near Bronikrom.
The taskforce reportedly seized a Range Rover, an unregistered Toyota RAV4, a Smith & Wesson pistol with two magazines, 21 rounds of ammunition, 12 mobile phones, and various mining equipment. Wooden structures and machinery at the site were also destroyed before transporting the suspects and seized items to the police station.
News of the arrests spread rapidly, prompting a crowd of about 600 residents to besiege the police station, demanding the release of the vehicles and calling for the soldiers to be handed over for “discipline.” In the chaos, the mob vandalised a Toyota Hilux pickup (AD 7191-25) belonging to the NAIMOS team, smashing its windscreen.
The Ahafo Regional Crime Officer, Chief Superintendent Prince Odom-Koduah, led a 15-member Regional Task Force to the scene, assisted by local police commanders, including Superintendent John Atanga of Goaso and Superintendent Opoku Yamoah of Kenyasi.
The tense situation worsened due to a power outage, increasing security concerns. To calm the crowd, the police, military, and local leaders, including the Zongo Chief of Hwidiem, Alhaji Mohammed Bashiru, agreed to release the ignition keys of the seized vehicles.
Alhaji Bashiru also used his Toyota Sequoia 4×4 to evacuate Col. Buah and his team safely to the Newmont Site in Kenyasi under police escort, though his vehicle was vandalised during the operation.
No injuries were reported.
After the evacuation, Col. Buah handed over several exhibits, including the pistol, ammunition, mobile phones, and GH₵11,000 in cash, to the police for evidential purposes.
Police have since restored calm in Hwidiem, but the area remains under close surveillance as investigations into the attack and the illegal mining operation continue.
