Violence has erupted in Sekyerekrobo in the Western Region as residents clashed with suspected illegal miners, leaving two residents with gunshot injuries and another with machete wounds.
The tensions began when residents, frustrated by the destruction of their water source, confronted the miners, allegedly Chinese nationals, who were operating illegally.
Before their action, they had protested at the chief’s palace demanding accountability but were dismissed.
The chief denied involvement in the illegal mining activity, prompting the residents to take matters into their own hands.
The residents reportedly marched to the mining site, where the confrontation turned violent.
The confrontation escalated, resulting in gunfire and retaliation, which left an illegal miner with severe injuries.
“After leaving the palace, the residents went to the illegal mining site and confronted the illegal miners who then fired gunshots, injuring two of the residents. In retaliation, one of the illegal miners was attacked with a machete and his hand severed. One illegal miner also fired gunshots until his ammunition was depleted. Subsequently, the residents took advantage of this and attacked him,’’ an eyewitness narrated.