Blood in the Forest: 5 Killed as Rival Loggers Battle Over Timber in Sehwi
Rival groups of illegal timber loggers engage in a brutal battle over control of logging territory, leaving five dead, several injured, and raising fresh concerns over the region’s illegal logging crisis.
- Five people killed and several injured in a violent dispute over illegal timber operations
- Armed factions fought using machetes and guns, with a vehicle set ablaze
- Residents and leaders demand stricter forestry law enforcement to prevent further violence
A brutal confrontation between two rival factions of illegal timber loggers in Sehwi Agyemadiem, located in the Juaboso District of the Western North Region, has resulted in five fatalities and multiple severe injuries.
The deadly clash, which erupted in the early hours of Tuesday, was reportedly fueled by disputes over control of lucrative logging zones. Both groups had been operating unlawfully in the area, contributing to the growing problem of illegal timber harvesting.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic, with combatants wielding machetes, pump-action guns, and other tools commonly used in their illicit trade. Amid the violence, a Mitsubishi pickup truck (registration number GE 9075-17) was torched.
The deceased, believed to be members of one of the feuding groups, have yet to be officially identified. Meanwhile, law enforcement has been deployed to restore order, recover the bodies, and initiate an investigation. The injured victims have been rushed to hospitals in Sefwi Asawinso for urgent medical care.
This incident has reignited concerns about the escalating menace of illegal logging in the region. Residents and local leaders are calling for stricter enforcement of forestry laws to curb the destruction of natural resources and prevent further violence.
Just weeks before the clash, the Chief of Sehwi Boinzan and Kontihene of Sehwi Wiawso Traditional Area, Nana Ofori Ahenkan II, had urged the government to take decisive action against illegal activities in the region’s forest reserves.
With tensions still simmering, authorities are under mounting pressure to crack down on illegal logging before another outbreak of violence occurs.
