Officers from Savannah Regional Security Council arrest 13 illegal miners in Bamboi

Thirteen (13) people, comprising five Chinese and eight locals, suspected to be illegal miners, have been arrested by a security task force in a Wednesday morning swoop led by the Savannah Regional Security Council (REGSEC).

Nine excavators and other mining equipment have also been impounded by security operatives.

The team comprised of over sixty personnel from the Ghana Police Service.

The miners, on seeing the operation team, dived into the water and escaped, leaving their machines behind. Some also managed to bolt away with their excavators.

Speaking exclusively to 3News.com after the over 15hours operation, Savannah Regional Minister, Salisu Be-Awurbi, emphasized that the operation was conducted on the basis of the alarming nature of the devastation.

“We got reports of the damage the mining activities here was causing to the environment and our water bodies and having visited the sites, I must admit that I’m dump-founded, heartbroken and sad at the extent of damage caused to the environment. The miners have blocked the river with sand for their illegal activities and I feel very sad,” he lamented.

He is optimistic that the John Mahama-led government will leave no stone unturned in fighting illegal mining activities.

“Let me place on record that we shall conduct many of such operations as directed by President Mahama so that we can combat this threat,” the Minister assured.

Illegal mining activities on the Black Volta in the Bamboi area of the Savannah Region has been alarming as portions of the river has been heavily polluted.

Nine excavators, gen sets, and other equipment used in their illegal activity were also seized and taken to the Bamboi Police Station.

Even though the security operatives declined commenting on camera, they expressed concerns over the level of impunity with which the miners are operating and assured that they will continue to torment their activities.

Meanwhile, government is under pressure from citizens to deal with all small-scale mining activities in the country.

The post Officers from Savannah Regional Security Council arrest 13 illegal miners in Bamboi first appeared on 3News.

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