A violent clash between two rival groups of illegal timber loggers in the Sefwi Agyemadiem forest, located in the Juaboso District of the Western North Region, has left five people dead and several others seriously injured.
The deadly confrontation, which occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, was reportedly sparked by disputes over control of lucrative logging areas. According to sources, both groups had been engaging in unauthorized timber harvesting, a growing issue in the region.
Eyewitnesses described a chaotic scene as the factions attacked each other with machetes, pump-action guns, and other tools commonly used in their illegal trade. In the midst of the violence, a Mitsubishi pickup truck (registration number GE 9075-17) was set on fire.
The deceased, believed to be members of one of the rival groups, have yet to be officially identified. Meanwhile, police have been deployed to restore order, transport the bodies, and commence investigations into the incident.
Several injured victims have been rushed to hospitals in Sefwi Asawinso for emergency medical treatment.
This violent episode has reignited concerns about the increasing menace of illegal logging in the region. Residents and local authorities are urging the government to enforce forestry laws more strictly to protect the area’s natural resources and prevent further violence.
Just weeks before the clash, the Chief of Sehwi Boinzan and Kontihene of the Sehwi Wiawso Traditional Area, Nana Ofori Ahenkan II, had called on the government to take decisive action against illegal activities in the region’s forest reserves.
With tensions still high, authorities are under pressure to intensify enforcement efforts and prevent further bloodshed linked to illegal logging.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
