By Ragan M. Conteh

As grieve, cries and violence erupted at Charlotte community, the Headman of Charlotte Village, Saidu Sesay has been accused of aiding the Ministry of Lands officials of selling their private land.

The headman has also been accused of engaging few elders in the community to intimidate landowners, allegations he had denied few months ago.

According to one Mr. Denis Valcarcel of Charlotte village, a complaint has reached to various stakeholders regarding the rampant selling of their land.

Valcarcel also spoke about the use of military personnel and other ex-combatant to intimidate landowning families.

He informed that the headman Saidu Sesay was also allegedly elected under a state of controversy which has left the coming in total division.

Denis Valcarcel and other stakeholders of Challote have lampooned their headman for working with whom they described as land grabbers.

What is more heartrending, Mr. Valcarcel explained is that, the land situated at the first  Annie Wash school at Charlotte village has  been misused and sold.

“We have no power at the moment, when the community people attempted to speak out the ex-combatant will go after you. Lots of people are buying land at Charlotte village illegally, ” he said.

Rachel English and Bonafide landowner said her community is facing serious problems allegedly machinated by their headman.

According to Rachael English, the rampant land grabbing in their community is aided by the chief who is signing illegal documents.

She said violation of the landowners is also a serious problem faced by Charlotte community.

“We the landowners are no longer respected they treat us like foreign nationals in our own property, ” she said.

She also told this medium that letter of complaint has reached the ACC, Rural Council Chairman, works ministry and other relevant authorities for their intervention.

The worst she explained is the failure by the headman to even consult the landowners on decision making regarding their property.

“We always saw bulldozers on the hills of Charlotte which poses serious environmental threat. We are at high risk,” she said.

Rachel English has called on the government especially President Bio to pay attention at Charlotte as human rights on landowners are a serious concern.

Many landowners make similar cries about their headman and the ministry.

They also spoke about the grading of protected area lands and the need for government to intervene.

Meanwhile, this medium spoke to the headman, Saidu Sesay few months ago on the said allegation.

“I cannot fight a government. Initially, I was among the fight  as land owning family but fighting government is just a fruitless endeavour. Government owns lands and if they want to plot these lands either I agree or not they go on,” he said.

He called on Denis Valcasel and others to join them and forget about defiance.