Near gun battle erupts over disputed mining concession at Gbane

There were near gun battles in the mining community of Gbane in the Talensi District of the Upper East region between some angry youth of the community and Armed Guards of Nanlamtaaba Enterprise, a popular small scale mining Enterprise operated by Zongdaan Boyak Kolog popularly known as Poloo.

The Wednesday afternoon clash threw the entire mining community into a state of fear as market women and shop owners were seen hurriedly packing their wares for an early day closure following heightened tensions and warnings of the area becoming a war zone on the day.

The vituperations from angrily loud voices and the brazen display of pump action guns and other offensive weapons were enough signals to push business men and women of the busy area to early bed.

Not long before the events could escalate into a full blown exchanges, the Upper East Regional Police Commander DCOP John Furgeson Dzineku arrived in the company of armed police officers to appeal to both parties to backdown.

While engaging both parties and attempting to retrieve the weapons in display, a team of heavily armed military men from Bolgatanga arrived at the scene, issuing loud instructions for all weapons to be dropped to the ground.

Some onlookers who were captured in viral social media videos say one of the armed guards of Nanlamtaaba Enterprise was saved by the second when he appeared to defy orders from the military to him to drop his weapon.

The protracted tension in the Gbane Mining Community have continued to escalate following a court order for Poloo to carry out mining operations in the area though his Enterprise does not hold a valid mining license.

Wednesday’s near fatal clashes was triggered by reports of assault of two young men from the Gbane community including one only identified as Majestic by assigns of Nanlamtaaba Enterprise.

The Gbane Community youth say they remain strongly opposed to the operations of Nanlamtaaba Enterprise in the area, citing several reasons including a disrespect to their Chief and Opinion Leaders by the Managing Director of the Enterprise.

The youth also say the deliberate recruitment and importation of armed men and youth from rival communities to the area by Nanlamtaaba Enterprise has continued to disturb the peace of the community.

Sources say a high powered delegation from the community to be led by the Chief of Gbane is set to visit the Upper East Regional Police Command over the recent disturbances.