One arrested, scores beaten as soldiers raid mining town

Armed military personnel Sunday morning invaded Dollar power town, a community in the Bole district of the Northern region.

The military, according to a resident, Mr. Razak, raided homes and arrested a well-known galamsey operator in the area known as Mohammed.

The soldiers reportedly applied minimum force on "adamant and uncooperative" residents.

"We were just at Dollor Power town and some soldiers came with armored cars and surrounded the whole community. They don't allow people to leave and don't release people to come inside.

"Currently, the chairman of the community, Mohammed, also known as Dollar power has been held and interrogation is ongoing; the search is ongoing, they are entering into houses and those who are not tolerating are being beaten", Razak narrated to Starr News.

According to Razak, the armed military men came to the community with at least six armored vehicles, conducted a roll call and burgled houses of targeted individuals who had fled the community.

It is not yet clear why the soldiers launched the incursion but it is widely believe to be linked to the death of a military officer in an attack in the area.

It would be recalled that on February, 5 2016, a group of gun men fired at the convoy of the Bole District Security Council who were on their way to the galamsey community on a fact finding mission.

A military officer died in the attack while two others including a fire commander sustained second degree injuries.

Residents believe the soldiers were searching for the attackers but residents say weapons were retrieved from the search conducted by the soldiers.

Dollar power is a border town to Ivory Coast. The area noted for the activities of illegal mining has recently grabbed the headlines for the wrong reasons.

The area is said to be harbouring some Ivorian rebels who have been reportedly terrorizing residents of the area.

Residents of the area were said to be arming themselves against armed robbery attacks which is said to be on the increase.