A farmer in the Okansi farming community in the Abuakwa North Municipality of the Eastern region has been arrested for leasing his farmland to illegal miners near Fisher camp.
The Municipal Security Council (MUSEC) of Abuakwa North led by the Municipal Chief Executive, Honourable Alhaji Umar Bodinga, stormed the illegal mining site upon a tip-off.
The MUSEC team comprised of the Tafo District Police Command Superintendent Isaac Ampofo and officers from National Intelligence Bureau (NIB).
The illegal miners however escaped before the arrival of the security team.
According to sources, about 20-acre cocoa farms, vegetation and parts of the Brim river were destroyed
Some mining equipment such as shovels, water pumping machines and others were confiscated by the Police.
According to Alhaji Umar Bodinga, the illegal miners opened fire on the security team from their hideout in a rubber plantation near the mining site but nobody was hurt.
“The suspects will be arrested at all costs”, the MCE said.
Meanwhile, the MCE has warned land owners to desist from leasing their farmlands to illegal miners since it is against the law.
