A violent incident that unfolded on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in Asiyaw, near Akwane-Dobro in the Nsawam district, has prompted a comprehensive investigation by the Eastern South Regional Police Command. Five men lost their lives in what police suspect was a brutal shootout tied to ongoing disputes over sand mining in the area.

The police revealed in a statement that officers deployed to the crime scene encountered a disturbing sight—five male adults lying lifeless, each bearing gunshot wounds. The discovery has intensified growing fears over the deadly rivalries allegedly connected to the region’s illegal sand winning operations.

At the scene, law enforcement officials gathered a range of items that may aid in the investigation. Among them were two pickup trucks, a Toyota Tacoma and a Toyota Tundra, as well as a pump action shotgun loaded with 17 live rounds. Authorities also recovered a handful of spent ammunition, including four empty cartridges, several used 7.62/39mm and 9mm shells, along with five heavy-duty motorcycles, all of which point to the scale and intensity of the confrontation.

Initial assessments by investigators indicate that the victims may have been caught in a deadly clash between two competing groups fighting for control over sand mining territories in the locality.

The deceased have since been taken to the Police Hospital morgue in Accra, where forensic teams will carry out autopsies and work toward confirming their identities.

Efforts are currently underway to pursue and arrest those suspected to be behind the violence, according to the police.