The National Anti Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has disclosed that its officers faced armed opposition from suspected unlicensed miners while carrying out an enforcement exercise at Subin Akwaaboso in the Central Region.
The episode took place on Sunday, November 1, 2026, when a contingent of NAIMOS officers, backed by members of the Special Boat Squadron (SBS), entered the settlement to apprehend suspected illegal mining operators.
NAIMOS stated that certain persons present refused to cooperate, with several reportedly brandishing machetes, guns and other dangerous weapons, thereby endangering the enforcement unit as well as bystanders.
In a declaration released on Monday, November 2, the Secretariat explained that the opposition caused serious challenges for the personnel, who were acting under the guidance of its Director of Operations, Colonel K. S. Appiah.
The Secretariat maintained that the team showed the greatest possible self control and acted firmly to stop the situation from worsening. It cautioned, however, that assaults on its staff and interference with lawful enforcement work would not be pardoned, and that anyone suspected of such conduct would be handed over to the relevant authorities for further action.
NAIMOS also restated its dedication to carrying out its duties within the bounds of the law, emphasising that essential and proportionate steps would be taken to safeguard its officers, the journalists accompanying them and members of the public.
Furthermore, the Secretariat promised to continue working jointly with pertinent security agencies, regulatory bodies and local communities, supported by the government and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, in order to combat illegal mining and protect the environment.
A note on the images: the set above comes from earlier NAIMOS operations in the Western Region and along rivers such as the Ankobra and Butre, so these are file images and not photos of the Subin Akwaaboso incident. I could not find published pictures of Sunday’s confrontation. For images of this specific event, Citi Newsroom’s report and NAIMOS’s official social media pages are the most likely sources.
