Information reaching this medium has it that hundreds of settlers at Jabang Village in the Kombo North District, mainly young people clashed with the Police Intervention Unit (PIU) Officers who showed up with alleged land owners to evict them from their homes.
According to sources tension erupted after the alleged land owners started evicting them without giving any notice. They were asked to leave with their families and Some were allegedly kicked out in the streets with their belongings, sources say.
“No written document or authority was given to notify us,” One Modou Colley said.
“Many of us have spent nearly 52 years in this place,” he added.
He urged the authorities to address the situation as they are prepared to die in defense of their properties because they bought the land and were living with their families since the first republic.
A pregnant woman who was reportedly removed from her house was left in the street with her belongings crying out for help.
The police who were with the alleged land owners threw tear gas at the villagers who retaliated against the forceful eviction without any notice.
Police Spokesperson, Superintendent David Kujabi said the police were not carrying out eviction but only providing security.
“The Sheriff Division is the one responsible for eviction and the police only went to provide security to the people carrying out the eviction,” Superintendent David Kujabi said.
Superintendent Kujabi added that when the police realized that notice was not given to the affected parties they were asked to withdraw from the scene.
Meanwhile, the police spokesperson said there was no arrest.
