Janet Koh, a trader and mother of seven, is now battling for her life after being struck by a stray bullet during a military confrontation with residents of Saamang in the Eastern Region.
Koh, who was selling roasted corn nearby, got caught in the chaos as residents clashed with military personnel allegedly deployed to protect Kibi Goldfields Limited.
The company is under fire from locals who accuse it of encroaching on the sacred River Akusu.
Eyewitnesses say the community had earlier disrupted the company’s operations, prompting a military response.
Two young men believed to be leading the protest were arrested, sparking outrage among the youth.
In an attempt to prevent the soldiers from leaving with the detainees, some residents blocked the road.
The military reportedly fired warning shots to clear the crowd—one of which hit Koh in the leg as she tried to flee.
She was rushed to the Saviour Memorial Hospital in Osiem and remains hospitalized. When Citi News visited the area on Sunday, August 3, tensions were still simmering.
Some residents are demanding the release of the detained youth and accountability for what they describe as excessive force by the military.
