The Municipal Chief Executive for Nzema Municipal in the Western Region, Herbert Kuah Dickson, has assured residents of Adelekezo, a farming community near Axim, of the Assembly’s commitment to investigate the circumstances that led to the clash between the youth of the community and JAS Mining Company last weekend.
The incident led to the death of a thirteen-year-old boy, burning of cars, excavators and other valuable properties belonging to the company, as well as some sustaining injuries.
Hon Kuah Dickson condemned the act by both parties and called for calm as investigations have commenced to arrive at an amicable resolution, mainly to restore peace and order.
The Municipal Chief Executive made these in an official press release issued and signed on Monday, 15 December 2025, where he stressed that the Assembly will not shield anyone found to have orchestrated the clash, which led to the shooting of the thirteen-year-old boy.
The release also revealed as follows: “It must be placed on record that the Municipal Security Council, led by the MCE in September 2025, as part of its routine visit to the community, arrested some Chinese nationals who were on their way from the community by the MUSEC Taskforce.”
The Assembly also confirmed in the release that an interrogation exercise conducted by the security operatives of Nzema East confirmed that the company in question had in its possession legal documents for a large-scale concession mining company, with all checks confirming their operations with the Minerals Commission and other regulators in the mining sector.
“The Assembly wishes to establish that the Municipal Chief Executive, during his first engagement with the community, the same day which led to the arrest of some workers of the company, expressed his dissatisfaction to the elders and people for not reporting the operations of the company when the MUSEC team visited the community in September 2025. “
“It must also be established that, as at the time the MUSEC team engaged the company and its workers for the first time in September 2025, after the arrest, further investigations revealed that the company had not commenced its operations”.
Below is the full text of the release:
NZEMA EAST MUNICIPAL ASSEMBLY
Dated Monday, 15 December 2025
For Immediate Release
ISSUES REGARDING ALTERCATION BETWEEN ADELEKEZO COMMUNITY AND JAS MINING COMPANY
The Assembly has taken note of the altercation between some sections of the Adelekezo Community youth and Jas Mining Company, which led to the unfortunate death of a thirteen-year-old boy and some sustaining various degree of injuries last weekend.
The Municipal Assembly condemns the act, which resulted in the destruction of properties, loss of a life, and infliction of injuries, as carried out by both parties.
It must be placed on record that the Municipal Security Council, led by the MCE in September 2025, as part of its routine visit to the community, arrested some Chinese nationals who were on their way from the community by the MUSEC Taskforce.
Upon interrogation by the security operatives of Nzema East, it led to the confirmation of legal documents as a large-scale concession mining company with all checks authenticating their operations from the Minerals Commission and other regulators in the mining sector.
The Assembly wishes to establish that the Municipal Chief Executive, during his first engagement with the community, the same day which led to the arrest of some workers of the company, expressed his dissatisfaction to the elders and people for not reporting the operations of the company when the MUSEC team visited the community in September 2025.
It must also be established that, as at the time the MUSEC team engaged the company and its workers for the first time in September 2025, after the arrest, further investigations revealed that the company had not commenced its operations.
Since the arrest of the workers in September by the MUSEC Taskforce, the Assembly has taken steps to engage the company to submit to the Assembly its roadmap relating to its operational activities until the recent disturbing incident.
The Assembly has also commenced an investigation into the cause of the clash to enable the resolution of the uneasy calm between the company and the entire community.
The Assembly will also ensure that proper engagement between the parties is held mainly to promote peace, harmony, and coexistence as well as cater to the expenses of life and other related casualties if any of the parties is found liable.
We wish to assure the general public to remain calm while the investigations are conducted dispassionately.
The Assembly also expressed its deepest condolences to the bereaved families and wishes all affected victims a speedy recovery as well, and will not hesitate to brief the general public on the outcome of the findings and way forward on the activities of the company.
End
Signed
Hon Herbert Kuah Dickson
Municipal Chief Executive
