By Gibao Brima

Residents living within and around Madamaya community have raised serious concerns over the abrupt closure of the once famous security checkpoint in that area, noting it has the potential to undermine state security.

The locals told our reporter that the security over the years scored incredible successes including but not limited to combating smuggling of drugs and precious minerals such as gold and diamonds, human especially child trafficking and other criminal activities.

They further said that with the presence of security forces around them they never lived in fear as they were going about their normal businesses. “With robust security around us, we were having very sound sleep as thieves were prevented from breaking our homes and stealing of our cattle and fouls,” one of the frightened inhabitants stated.

They insisted that with the abrupt closure of Madamaya checkpoint they are no longer safe, fearing that criminal activities will resume at once.

Mr Turay, a black marketer living in the Madamaya community appealed to authorities concerned to look into the issue of Madamaya checkpoint closure, stressing that Madamaya is very strategic since it is an entry point to neighbouring Guinea. He feared that if the issue is not properly managed, it will not only be a security threat to them living in that community but Kambia district and the nation in particular. “This ugly development will also have a devastating blow to National Revenue Authority’s revenue generation drive as smugglers will have a field day bypassing customs checkpoints with ease,” Mr. Turay added in frustration.