By Ragan M. Conteh

The female Member of Parliament from Kenema District, Hon. Juliana Fartoma, told colleague MPs of the four people  killed by some crocodiles  including children in her community in Kenema District.

She made the disclosure on Friday 9th July 2024 in the chambers of parliament.

She said the influx of the “strange crocodiles” have scared away people from going to their farms and  riverine areas.

She maintained that the invasion of crocodiles in Lower Bambara and part of Malego Chiefdoms have caused serious threats in communities around.

Hon. Fartoma’s Constituency has two rivers including Owa river and and Maleh river. The crocodiles, she added, have become target for the people in those rivers especially at some major rivers crossing points.

“The frightening thing is that the crocodiles are hiding along the routes waiting for those crossing the rivers,” she explained.

“Those children going to the streams to fetch water could also be targeted by the crocodiles.”

The MP revealed that a first crocodile’s attack was to a boy who went to the river to fetch water. Adding that by the time she crossed her vehicle over the bridge, she  heard people were shouting.

When she check out to know what the shouting was, she saw the boy’s chopped off by the crocodiles.

She had also received other four deaths in her community due to crocodiles attacks.

The female Member of Parliament went further to say that another incident had also been reported of resulting to a death, rounding up the number of victims to five.

“The situation is very serious to the extent that my people now become afraid of going to their farm lands, ” she noted.

The community people had requested for a boat that would produce noisy sound which may scare away the crocodiles.

As crocodiles on the rampage on road sides,  school children don’t dare to walk alone fearing for their lives.

” It’s a threat for safety of these children,” she said.

She called on the Speaker of Parliament and government authorities to come to the aid of her very poor people in that part of the country.

The Speaker of Parliament, Hon Segepoh Solomon Thomas, ordered the Committee on Internal Affairs and the Committee on Environment to investigate to do an investigation on the matter.

The Speaker has also requested for a detail  explanation on the issue through writing.

And he assured the MP whose community is affected of a swift intervention by the government.