Tragedy struck in the early hours of Tuesday, March 11, 2025, when two rival groups of illegal timber loggers clashed in the forested area of Sefwi Agyemadiem in the Juaboso District of the Western North Region.
The violent confrontation resulted in the death of five individuals, with several others left severely injured.
According to sources, the groups were reportedly involved in unauthorized timber harvesting activities, which have been increasingly common in the region.
Tensions between the two groups had been escalating over control of prime logging areas, which ultimately led to the fatal conflict.
The incident, which took place at Agyemadiem, saw the two factions engage in a deadly confrontation using machetes, pump-action guns, and other tools commonly used in their illicit activities.
Eyewitnesses claim the situation quickly spiraled out of control, leading to the tragic deaths. A Mitsubishi pickup with the registration number GE 9075-17 was also set ablaze during the scuffle.
The deceased have been identified as members of one group, though their identities are yet to be confirmed by authorities.
The police have since been deployed to the area to carry the dead bodies and ensure calm. The injured individuals have been rushed to the Sefwi Asawinso Hospital for treatment.
The clash has drawn widespread concern over the growing threat posed by illegal logging activities in the region. Residents and local authorities have called for more stringent enforcement of forestry laws, emphasizing the importance of protecting the region’s forests from further exploitation.
Meanwhile, the Chief of Sefwi Boinzan, who also serves as the Krontihene of the Sefwi Wiawso Traditional Area, Nana Ofori Ahenkan II, had called on the government to address the growing lawlessness in the forest reserves of the region few days prior to the clash.
