The Central Command has disclosed that the settlement that was torched when excavators were burnt by the operation halt team at Ntobroso served as fuel storage for illegal miners.
Addressing journalists on Friday, February 24, 2022, General Officer Commanding Central Command of the Ghana Armed Forces, Brigadier General Joseph Aphour, revealed the excavators burnt were used for the massive destruction of River Offin by illegal miners.
He noted that the excavators were moved to the bank of the river where the settlement that got burnt was located.
He said the operation was successful aside from the house that was torched.
Two excavators he added were set ablaze and in the process, the house which was used as fuel storage also got touched.
The storage he said was providing fuel for the excavators used for the illegal mining activities.
He explained that although the house was far from where the excavators were burnt, the fuel spillage from the storage caused the house to burn.
He said fortunately enough, no lives were lost.
Efforts to contain the fire he stated were thwarted by the residents who attacked the soldiers with stones and other offensive weapons.
The soldiers he said called in the Fire Service and upon arrival, they were equally assaulted and fire tender destroyed.
He further disclosed that a full-scale investigation would be conducted to unravel circumstances leading to the burning of a house during the anti galamsey operation at Ntobroso.
He said no one would be shielded if the investigation confirms military men were culpable.
By: Rashid Obodai Provencal/Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
