By Ibrahim Karim Bangura (Tanko)

Residents of No. 2 community, Western Area Rural District were scared by some armed police officers under the supports and supervision of the incumbent government including officials from the Ministry of Lands, police personnel to illegally demolish and render various families’ homeless over a vast areas of land which is believed to be claimed by the Guman Valley Water Company.

The land in questioned is said to be a forest area of the water dam.

Some Sierra Leoneans say the unauthorized demolition exercise which took place on Monday 4th May, 2024 was done by some wicked government officials.

Eyewitness account say Operations Support Division (OSD)’s officers were armed while meeting the occupants but without prior notification.

The occupants say they were not served a written notice or warned before from any competent court of law.

Meanwhile, the Civil Society Consortium on Community Accountability and Service told journalist at the Bio Barry community No. 2 that the current government is illegally demolishing  houses of residents within the 8 sections at Ward-C Municipality.

The global coordinator of the consortium and  stakeholder at N0. River community, Moses Mambu said the action of the government and Ministry of Lands, Guma Valley agency and the Ministry of Environment to demolish setters’ houses was totally unacceptable.

 He said they would be left with no option but to stage a one thousand man match protest if government continues to thrash more homes at the settlement.

“Government must inform us regarding any demolition process, the situation is sad for people at the moment.”

“95% of the inhabitants have legitimate documents and others have been staying here for over 15 years without any problem,’ he said.

Moreover, Willian B.M.Soa-Lamin, Chairperson  CSO Consortium on community accountability and service delivery confirmed to newsmen that  government was “bulldozing” their way.

He said all lands are owned by the state and so a due process must be followed to acquire any land. He added that the government of Sierra Leone, the Guma Valley and the Ministry of the Environment must do the needful.

“We have 8 communities at N0. 2 and all are affected directly or indirectly.”

“ We will focus on our massive, and robust campaign and approach by using the media and donor partners to inform society.”

Speaking during the session, the Headman, Joseph Jalloh, affirmed that the damage by the sitting government is going on now in the community without notification.

He noted that the majority of residents have legal documents given by the Ministry of Lands but he cited the massive corruption within the said ministry.

He further told the public that the Bio administration must discussed issues of governance to the people such as doing civic education.

“Our community is divided into 8 zones, namely, Bio Barry, forest compound, lots of compounds and areas,’ he said.

However, Syliva Kanu, a victim sadly vented out  her strong feeling, saying that the military and police officers are currently on the ground while the demolition process is massive and miserable.

“My house was demolished badly, I have legal documents for my property to show from the then Minister of Lands since 2022 to date. It is unfortunate for our nation, I have spent over Four Hundred Million Leones, and the central government is unable to explain to us with regards the broke-ose ( house demolition) process in our communities,” he said.

According to the Guma Valley Water Company’s press notice, issued about few weeks ago, it said inhabitants of those communities illegally grabbed  lands that belong to Guma Dam and folks there are highly prone to disaster.

Moreover, Africa24 investigation reveals that authorities at the lands ministry had been selling or leasing property to those that had occupied the places for close to 15 years now with the pretext on a  free-hold condition mainly at Ward-C and its environs.

What was too painful according to the evicted citizens, some folks were ready to lease or buy the property from lands but they refused or turned down their requests for several times. Mohamed Kamara, a foreign investor claimed that he had bought his land from the Ministry of Lands but was demolish.

But asked why must lands officials leading the unlawful demolition of his structure together with armed policemen.