By
Regina Benneh, GNA
Sunyani, June 18, GNA – Some
unidentified men on Thursday ambushed and attacked a combined team of
military and forestry guards detailed to arrest illegal chainsaw operators
in the Abonwire Forest Reserve in the Asunafo District of the Brong-Ahafo
Region.
Three soldiers – Warrant Officer Class Two
(WOII), Yaw Adjapong, Sergeant John Nartey and Corporal Isaac Djan sustained
cutlass wounds on their hands and the back of the neck.
Also hurt was a driver of the Forest Services
Division (FSD) of the Forestry Commission (FSD), Joseph Akakpo,
Their injuries were not life-threatening and
they were all treated and discharged at the Goaso Government Hospital.
Police Chief Inspector Augustine Kingsley
Oppong, the Police Regional Public Relations Officer, confirmed this to
journalists in Sunyani.
The incident happened between Mintumi and
Abuom, near Sankore and no arrest has been made.
The team, made up of four soldiers, five
forestry guards and a ranger had been sent to the reserve following a complaint
made by Mr. Godfred Quashigah, the Goaso District Manager of the FSD about the
destructive activities of the illegal chainsaw operators.
On their way, they came across a tractor and a
timber truck loaded with six logs of the ‘Essah’ tree species packed in
the bush.
They did not find anybody there and therefore
decided to deflate the tyres of the two vehicles to immobilize them as they
waited for the owners to show.
Police Chief Inspector Oppong said all of
sudden they were besieged by about 50 men carrying machetes, clubs and
other offensive weapons alongside pepper spray.
The group inflicted cutlass wounds on the four
and attempted to seize the guns of the soldiers’ but without success.
The soldiers’ through bravery and
professionalism managed to send them fleeing into the bush.
Chief Inspector Oppong said the police had
commenced investigations into the incident and vowed to arrest and to prosecute
those who carried out the attack.
GNA