Breaking News:

Land Dispute Causes Mayhem in Western Region!!

State Guards, Arrest And Beat Protesters

Police Chief Jesus Tells The Freedom Newspaper that the land dispute has been going on for sometime now

By Wise Man, Our Chief Western Region Correspondent

Kombo Central was the scene for violent crime this morning. A major land dispute case between  the inhabitants of Kerewan, Makumbaya and  Babylon left the house of the Alkalo of Makumbaya set ablaze by angry youths. Three vehicles were also burnt to ashes by the violent youths. Dozens of villagers were left critically injured. The affected localities were  Kombo Central and Kombo North respectively.   Some of the villages are close to Lamin and Brikama. Armed state guards walked  in to beat and arrest youths. Over one hundred youths were arrested. Soldiers are still searching for people linked to the violence, which nearly spreads to the entire region. The protesters were armed with local guns, cutlasses and knives.

Those arrested includes: Men, women, the elderly and youths. During a visit to the Brikama Police Station, our Correspondent Wise Man was told by the Commanding officer Jesus that over one hundred people were arrested in connection with the incident. Commander Jesus told the Freedom Newspaper that the land dispute case was provoked by the Alkalo of Babylon village, Lamin Jarju, who happens to be a former army officer. Jesus says the inhabitants of Kerewan and Makumbaya have accused Alkalo Jarju of selling their lands.  

The police chief says the said land dispute case was a subject of litigation at the High Court, in which  Alkalo Jarju was declared the owner of the said land by the court. The court’s  decision, said Jesus, never went down well with the two villagers.

Jesus said he received an intelligence report late Saturday that the inhabitants of Kerewan and Makumbaya were posed to attack Alkalo Jarju’s village. Jesus says as soon as he received the said intelligence, he deplored seven personnel of the police intervention Unit to the Alkalo’s residence to provide security for him on Saturday night." But to my dismay and utter suprise, I received a phone call from my men, that the village was under attack by the two villagers. There was unrest everywhere. The attackers outnumbered my men. They called to ask for help." he said.

On Sunday morning, continued Jesus, “ I received a phone call from my men, who told me that the villagers of Kerewan and Makumbaya were armed to the teeth with cutlasses, knives and local guns. The villagers went wild, causing mayhem in the village. My men said they could not handle the situation by themselves and needed reinforcement. That, the protesters have already burnt down the Alkalo’s house, setting three cars on fire. That, some of the injured villagers were taken to the RVH for treatment.” Jesus said.

Commander Jesus said the army later came to his men’s aid to repel the protesters. “ As I am speaking to you over one hundred people are currently detained here. More people are expected to be arrested. The search continues.” Police chief Jesus told the Freedom Newspaper.

The police chief says investigations into the incident were underway, and those responsible would face the full scale of the law. He says lack of enough men was partly responsible for destruction to public property. " The army came in and restored peace in the area. The situation is now under control." Jesus tells the Freedom Newspaper.

There was also high presence of soldiers in the locality. The soldiers asked the villagers to stay in door or risked being arrested. They aslo appealed to villagers to handover anyone linked to the land dispute violence.