A number of compounds were on Tuesday demolished in Farato Medina otherwise call Bafuloto, causing bloody riots in the area.
The people of Farato embarked on the demolition exercise in Bafuloto through a court order.
The demolition team led by Momodou Secka from the Sheriff Division accompanied by a team of Police Intervention Unit PIU officers were drove away from Bafuloto with stones up to the Police station in Farato.
Their cars were burnt down, the grader hired by physical planning to demolish the compounds was burnt down and tires burnt on the highway blocking traffic in Farato.
Several people suffered injuries and rushed to the nearest hospital.
This land dispute according to residents has been in court since 2006.
Giving a clear picture of what caused the violence, Police Public Relations Officer Inspector Foday Conta said the tension is caused by a court order issued to some individuals to go and make demolitions in Farato Medina ( Bafuloto).
According to him, upon arrival and as they were on the demolition exercise, some people in Bafuloto village came out and stoned them.
“As the stoning was going on, they ran for their lives. There was security but it wasn’t that strong to resist and control the crowd. So, they all have to run for their lives. Through the help of the security, the demolition team ran to the Police station in Farato for safety” he explained.
PRO Conta said because Farato stations is a small station, when the demolition team arrived for their safety, the mobs from Bafuloto also followed them and the security there could not control them before the arrival of the reinforcement.
“For that matter, the Grader was burnt down with another Mercedes Benz 190 and road blocked” he said.
He confirmed that the Police has arrested many people and are currently detained at Brikama Police station helping them in their investigation. He wouldn’t give the specific number of arrests or names of those arrested for security reasons saying the case is at its preliminary stage. He said investigations will follow suit and from there whosoever is found wanting will face the full force of the law.
The police spokesperson advised the general public to desist from this attitude saying if anyone is dissatisfied with a court ruling or whatsoever, he or she has the right place to go for an appeal.
“So, going to the court means you can get justice but if you take the law into your own hands, it is very unfortunate. We will advise that in whatever they are doing, let them put the law into consideration” he advised.
He reminded the occupant
s of the disputed land that this is a court order issued for them to be evicted and if they feel offended, they should go to the court and raise their points but they cannot obstruct the people demolishing the place or obstructing the police performing their duties.
“If the court has ordered that they vacate, of course they will vacate and if they are dissatisfied they shoud take a proper procedure by going back to the courts” he concluded.
