DRIVER SHOT DEAD; ASSISTANT CRITICALLY INJURED IN BLOODY AMBUSH AT AWUTU

A routine site clearing for a new quarry project turned deadly on Monday, when unidentified gunmen opened fire on a crew working within the Awutu Kwame Whettey Forest in the Awutu Senya West District of the Central Region.

The ambush claimed the life of Gausu Yusif, a 25-year-old excavator operator, while his assistant, Charles Essuman, remains in critical condition at a medical facility.

According to reports by Adom TV’s Central Regional Correspondent, Kofi Adjei, the two men were using heavy machinery to pave an access road into the forest to reach a rock formation earmarked for sampling by a proposed stone quarry investment group.

Police reports indicate that the attackers, believed to have been riding a motorbike, fired multiple gunshots at the victims before fleeing into the forest.

Confirming the incident, Superintendent Edmond Nyamekye, Awutu Bereku District Police Commander, said investigators have launched a full-scale operation to track down the gunmen.

“We are pursuing credible leads and working with local residents to assist in identifying the attackers,” Superintendent Nyamekye said.

The land where the incident occurred had recently been earmarked for quarry development by local traditional authorities.

Nai Kojo Nam-Quaye, Chief of Awutu Aberful, who facilitated the rock sampling for a group of Chinese investors, expressed shock at the killing and appealed to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to intervene.

“We are calling for a swift and thorough investigation to ensure the safety of investors and workers in this area,” he said.

While no arrests have been made, police sources say investigators are examining possible links to local land disputes or territorial conflicts.

The body of Gausu Yusif has been deposited at the morgue for autopsy. Security has since been tightened in Awutu Bereku and surrounding communities as police continue their manhunt.

Source:NKONKONSA.com