A viral video has surfaced of arrested galamsey kingpin Iddrisu Zakari, alias Yaayaa, spraying wads of cash on the late music icon Daddy Lumba at a concert before his arrest.
Yaayaa, known for his illegal mining empire in the Osino–Bonsu area.
The viral video clip has reignited public anger over how galamsey money fuels luxury and excess while damaging local communities.
Iddrisu Zakari was arrested by the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Squad (NAIMOS).
He has been labelled as a notorious galamsey kingpin involved in illegal mining activities within the Osino Residential Area.
Reports suggest the NAIMOS operation took place on Monday, November 10, 2025, at about 6:06 p.m.
According to reports, Iddrisu Zakari was arrested at Bonsu after agreeing to meet NAIMOS.
He agreed to meet with a NAIMOS operative to negotiate the release of his arrested thugs and to discuss a possible halt to the ongoing inquiries into his operations.
Iddrisu Zakari has been handed over to the Ghana Police Service for further investigations.
Recall, NAIMOS conducted a dawn operation at Osino in the Eastern Region, arresting 36 suspected illegal miners on Friday, November 7, 2025.
The group includes 32 Nigerien nationals and 4 Ghanaians, reportedly caught mining illegally along the Birim River in the Fanteakwa South District.
In a post on social media, Felix Kwaye Ofosu, Minister of Government Communications, stated, “NAIMOS Conducts Massive Dawn Strike in Eastern Region, arrests Several Foreign Galamseyers (32 Nigerien and 4 Ghanaians) in Swoop at Osino in the Fanteakwa South District – 8 November 2025”.
The NAIMOS team also impounded heavy-duty machinery and recovered substantial amounts of cash and other mining-related materials from the site.
In related NAIMOS news, the Task Force has arrested the Chief of Dokokyina, Nana Ogyeahohuo Barima Anum, for obstructing the arrest of a prominent galamsey.
Reports suggest the incident occurred in an anti-galamsey operation at Besiasi in the Ayensuano District of the Eastern Region.
According to the information gathered, the arrest occurred around 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 9, 2025.
The Chief is said to have pursued members of the task force in an effort to disrupt the arrest of Asenso Kwabena, a prominent galamsey kingpin.
In a video shared on X, the Nana Ogyeahohuo Barima Anum was caught while driving a grey Mercedes-Benz ML 350 with a registration number GT 870-14.
Also, the National Inter-Ministerial Offensive System (NAIMOS) Task Force has arrested a galamsey kingpin attempting to bribe them with GHS 100,000.
This comes following NAIMOS a successful raid at an illegal mining (galamsey) site in Bisiasi, Ayensuano District, Eastern Region.
The operation resulted in the arrest of the alleged operation leader, who is accused of blocking and polluting the Ayensu River.
The galamseyers appeared at the site armed with a pistol and attempted to bribe the Task Force with a cash amount of GHS 100,000.
In a post by Bridget Otoo, a presidential staffer, she wrote, “A Galamsey Kingpin attempted to bribe the NAIMOS team with 100,000 cedis. These guys had blocked and polluted the Ayensu River at Bisiasi in the Ayensuano District of Eastern Region.
Watch the video below:
🇬🇭 A viral video shows arrested galamsey boss Iddrisu Zakari, alias Yaayaa, spraying wads of cash on the late music icon Daddy Lumba at a concert before his arrest.
— CDR AFRICA (@cdrafrica) November 11, 2025
Yaayaa, known for his illegal mining empire in the Osino–Bonsu area, was reportedly nabbed after trying to free… https://t.co/ntb5Br33Ng pic.twitter.com/knnobTtGDE