An autopsy report conducted on four suspected illegal miners who were killed by unknown assailants at Akyem-Akukuso near Atiwa in the Eastern Region has vindicated the stance by operation vanguard that they were not responsible for their death.

The four including; Iddrisu Usiff, 38, Charles Osei Amponsah, 25, T.T and Alhaji were found dead in a pool of water but earlier reports suggested they were shot dead by armed police and military personnel.

But Eastern Regional Minister, Eric Kwakye Daffour has revealed that the autopsy report indicates that they died as a result of drowning and that the incident happened at a time the members of the anti-galamsey task force were also not on duty

“What I can assure you is that the four deceased men did not die out of gunshot wounds but as a result of drowning but whoever pushed them into the pit to be drown, we cannot tell” the minister added.

The Commander of the National Taskforce Colonel William Agyapong also reiterated that his men were not responsible for the death of the miners, adding that the security is aware of the existing laws governing the country.

Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) David Asante-Apeatu on Tuesday dispatched personnel from the homicide unit of the Ghana Police Service to Kwabang to help unravel the perpetrators of the crime as part of ongoing investigations.

Residents have however been urged to remain calm while thorough investigations are conducted into the incident with the promise by the police that the culprits if found, will be dealt with.

 

Exclusively Newslinegh