A Forestry Commission Rapid Response team has narrowly escaped death as about 20 fully armed illegal miners still operating within the Jimira Forest Reserve ambushed and opened fire on them as they embarked on their usual patrol duties.
Officials of the commission tell JoyNews they had an intel on Saturday June 28, 2025 that some illegal miners have invaded Compartment 34 of the Jimira Forest Reserve (Bentiko-Pakyi portion). "Apparently, we had made attempts on two occasions to clamp down on illegal miners at the said portion of the Reserve but were prevented by armed thugs," he said. "The last incident occurred on May 27, 2025, when we visited the area with our Rapid Team supported by 7 police officers from the Nkawie Divisional Police Command." "At that instance, the armed thugs prevented the team from accessing the reserve," he hinted.
Today's exercise was carried out by the Rapid Response Team and other officers totalling eight.
JoyNews is learning that on approaching the boundary to the Reserve, the thugs had parked three pick-up vehicles on the route and ordered them to stop.
