By Ragan M. Conteh

“Serving as security for private lands is not the responsibility of military officers. Let’s the military officers go back to their barracks,” the opposition Leader in Parliament, Hon Abdul Kargbo warned. He made this statement on Thursday 13th February, 2025 during the debate on the approval of the presidential nominees in Parliament.

According to Hon. Kargbo authorities should stop engaging the military officers just to protect their private land, adding that  the government stakeholders should instead allow the police officers to provide such service because they are recruited to protect lives and property of Sierra Leone.

“Serving as land guards is not the responsibility of military officer,” he said emphasized adding that, land issues have become very alarming in the country. He therefore admonished the appointees in the Lands Ministry to work towards settling lands disputes.

Hon Kargbo urged the Ministry of Lands to try to paperless in order to have proper mapping of both private and government lands.

He also called on appointees to avoid duplicating lands to avoid land conflicts.

“The reason why people are using the military officers to secure their private lands is because a single lands is sold to many people,” he said.

Hon Kargbo also spoke on the land grabbing and how reserve lands have been deforested.

The lamaker also warned the appointees to work towards leaving legacies that they will be remembered in the future.

“It is better not to go to your office for which you are appointed for and come out doing nothing or with no change,” Hon Kargbo asserted.