A POLICEMAN in the company of some chainsaw operators has been shot to death in the Bonsambepo Forest Reserve at Kyenkyensibuosu in the Asunafo North Municipality in the Brong Ahafo Region.
The deceased, Sergeant James Kofi Nimoh, 53, station officer of the Asumura Police Station, died on the spot after a bullet from a gun allegedly fired by a forest guard hit his midsection.
Two people said to be guards at the reserve have been placed in police custody at Goaso pending further investigations. Their identities were not immediately known.
A source at Goaso told the Daily Graphic that the body of the policeman had been deposited at the Goaso Government Hospital.
According to the source, Sergeant Nimoh entered the forest reserve with the illegal operators at about 10 p.m. last Tuesday, and they used five trucks in their operations.
According to the source, upon a tip-off, the concession guards, who lived in the vicinity, also went to the operation area to confront the operators.
When they got there, one of the trucks had already been loaded while the others were waiting for their turn.
The source said a heated argument ensued between the guards and the operators as they (the guards) attempted to force them to abandon their operations.
Sergeant Nimoh was said to have engaged in a scuffle with the armed guards and in the course of the confusion, a gun belonging to one of the guards went off, killing the policeman instantly.
As the policeman fell, the chainsaw operators escaped with their vehicles.
When the Daily Graphic contacted the Municipal Police Commander, DSP Daniel Afugu on telephone from his base at Goaso, he confirmed the incident but declined to give further details.
He said the police were investigating the incident and he was therefore in no position to make further comments.
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