Galamsey kingpin arrested by NAIMOS at Bunso

The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has detained a notorious galamsey operator, Iddrisu Zakari, also known as Yaayaa, who has been implicated in unlawful mining activities in the Osino area. The arrest occurred on Monday, November 10, 2025, at approximately 6:06 pm at Bunso.

Zakari was taken into custody after he agreed to meet NAIMOS operatives to negotiate the release of his associates who had been arrested and to discuss a possible halt to ongoing investigations into his unlawful mining operations.

This follows a recent raid on Zakari’s galamsey site on the night of Friday, November 7, 2025, during which 32 Nigerien nationals and four Ghanaian guards wielding machetes were taken into custody.

Iddrisu Zakari has now been handed over to the Ghana Police Service for further investigation.

NAIMOS and law enforcement agencies urged the public to support efforts to end unlawful mining activities in the region.