By Fatmata Bundu
18 January, 2021 (SALONE TIMES)
FREETOWN – Report reaching SALONE TIMES indicate that villagers in Tekuyama in the Gborama Mende and Simbaru Chiefdom have clashed over a small piece of land that is being used as a football field.
The ensuing melee degenerated into violence leaving over 100 families homeless. Thirteen houses were reported to have been burnt down by the two village miscreants who also carted away with valuable goods and properties worth millions of Leones.
The Police Regional Crime Officer, Kenema District Mr. Laga told Salone Times that they received complaints from both villages and upon their response they discovered that the people had fled the scene.
He explained that they had arrested eight assailants who were then in their custody helping police in their investigations. At the end of the investigations those who are culpable will then be charged to court.
On his part, the Section Chief Alfred Pokawa narrated that both Gbarama and Simbaru in the Gborama Mende Chiefdom mobilized and burnt down his village, Tekuyama in the Kemoh section at Wandor chiefdom.
He said most of the chiefs are now in Kenema pursuing the matter to ensure that his people get the justice they deserve.
One of the village elders Hafiju Pokawa accused the sitting Member of Parliament Hon. Kanja for Constituency 018 to have fanned the flames of the conflict. He said he had engaged the media and is threatening to take the matter to the highest authority even if it’s to President Julius Maada Bio.
He stressed that the attitude of the sitting MP has caused the people of the chiefdom to refuse paying local tax to Tekuyama in the Kemoh Section.
Mr. Hafiju Pokawa explained that they reported the matter to Chief Yei Mboyawa of Wando for his intervention and later reported the matter to the Chief at Gbarama, Wando Chiefdom who informed the PC. He continued that the Chief had in turn written a letter to the Gbarama Mende chief Madam Haja Mariama Kanja for peaceful settlement
Mr. Pokawa continued that the people of Simbaru received a message that some people from the two villages were on their way to crown their chief which created alarm and panic. Suddenly, he saw them approaching the village with cutlasses and other harmful instruments to attack them and people had to run to the nearest bush for their lives without taking a single property with them.
According to the Wando Development Association, Public Relations Officer, Sullay Sanie they are disappointed with the sad development they heard from their people. He said that the people were now homeless and work on their farms have now come to a standstill. He said they had discussed this state of affairs with Alhaji Osman Barrie a brother who based in the United States of America and a philanthropist to help the people with financial support so that they will be able to take care of themselves.
Alhaji Osman Barrie has now spent millions of Leones for food and medication and he is also contributing helping to transport the people to Kenema Police station for further investigation. All of them commended Alhaji Osman Barrie for his financial assistance to the displaced people who are still in the bushes.
