By Lamin Njie
Kombo Yiriwa Kafo has written to President Adama Barrow to ‘draw his attention’ to the ‘many’ land disputes in the Kombo part of the country.
“The issue of land matters has been simmering in the Kombo area for a quite a while now with little or no policy decision to resolve the situation,” the Alhagie Conteh-led group told President Barrow in their letter.
A number of Kombo towns continue to make headlines amid land disputes that have gripped them.
The latest town is Sukuta where a government demolition squadron last month descended on and tore down structures on a land the government says is reserved.
Kombo Yiriwa Kaffo said in their letter to President Barrow: “Your Excellency, recent events in various parts of Kombo namely; Brufut, Gunjur, Sukuta and earlier on in Faraba Banta and Bakau among others are enough proof of what lies ahead if no concrete actions are taken to address the growing disenchantment with the abuse of power by different public officials with little regard for sentiments on the ground.”
The Sukuta Salagi demolition exercise saw a number of people arrested and charged after they allegedly obstructed the officers who were accompanied by riot police.
Kombo Yiriwa Kaffo in their letter to President demanded their ‘unconditional’ release and the dropping of charges against them.
The group demanded from the president in their letter: “…the leadership of Kombo Yiriwa Kaffo, on behalf of the citizens of Kombo, wishes to engage your government and all other stakeholders for a meaningful dialogue and immediately demand the following; the unconditional release of all the Sukuta youths arrested and detained at the Brusubi Police Station and to drop all charges preferred against them; the security forces stop immediately the harassment of the affected communities on land matters throughout Kombo. We consider the so-called press release from Physical Planning Department very provocative and the officials of the department must stop immediately the demolition of structures in their so-called layouts…”
The group in their 15-point demand also asked for a meeting with the president.
“As a matter of urgency we call on the president to meet the executive of Kombo Yiriwa Kafo to table the above sporadic land conflicts in Kombo,” the group said.
