Illegal miner remanded for threatening security agencies with firearm

The Juaboso Magistrate Court has remanded into police custody one Evans Amoako, popularly known as Sasso, after he was arrested for brandishing a firearm in a viral video and issuing threats against security agencies.

On Sunday, August 24, 2025, a video circulated on social media capturing Amoako and some unidentified accomplices issuing threats to security personnel.

In the footage, Amoako, holding a locally manufactured pistol loaded with live ammunition, warned that any security personnel who attempted to arrest them at their illegal mining site would be shot and killed.

According to police sources, the accused was arrested on August 26, 2025, at Sefwi Metemano in the Juaboso District of the Western North Region.

He was arraigned before the Juaboso Magistrate Court, where the prosecution pressed two charges against him: causing fear and panic among security agencies in the performance of their lawful duties, and possession of a firearm without lawful authority.

The prosecution prayed the court to refuse bail, arguing that the accused could interfere with ongoing investigations, including efforts to apprehend his accomplices and retrieve the firearm used in the video.

When asked to respond to the charges, Amoako pleaded guilty and admitted ownership of the firearm. He told the court that he only displayed the weapon “for play,” and insisted he did not personally upload the video on TikTok. He pleaded for bail, promising to cooperate with the investigation.

The magistrate, however, declined the bail application, citing the seriousness of the offence and the risk of the accused interfering with investigations.

The court remanded Amoako into police custody and adjourned the case to September 15, 2025, for further hearing.

Meanwhile, illegal mining activities continue to rise in the Juaboso District of the Western North Region.

Source: Augustine Boah

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