By Prince J Musa in Kenema
A District Security Committee in Kenema coordinated by the Office of National Security has on the 8th March 2021 mediated the simmering land dispute between two chiefdoms, Dama and Gaura in the Kenema district. The contested portion of land is between Kambema in Dama and Joru in Gaura.
At the Joru Community Barray, the co-Chair of the Committee and Activist, Augustine Allieu Sannoh explained to the gathering about the mediation efforts two years back and said they were there as a committee to admonish both chiefdoms including the youths about the measures being put in place before soliciting the services of surveyors.
He said should any disagreement emerge during the work of the surveyors, it should be directed to the authorities, and frowned at anything that may lead to violence.
The Senior District Officer William Ngegbai said boundary disputes involving villages and chiefdoms have become a concern to national security. He however acknowledged the patience demonstrated by youths of the sister chiefdoms in maintaining peace up to that point. He warned against any incitement of the youths by sub-chiefs, stressing that anyone suspected of such an act will be immediately suspended.
The Provincial Security Coordinator East, Sahr Mafinda spoke about the security issues arising from land cases in various communities. “We are with the experts from the Ministry of Lands to do the boundary demarcation from the document by the colonial masters, using GPS’’, he pointed out. He advised officials of the Lands Ministry to do their job professionally and come out with the facts without fear or favour.
The Regional Land Surveyor East, Abubakar Kamara told both parties “we are not here to subtract but to produce what is in the document prepared by the colonial masters’’, Kamara.
Paramount Chief of Dama Alhaji Sandi Momoh Fowai expressed gratitude to the security officials for intervening and advised that the surveyors do a diligent job by not siding with either of the two chiefdoms. He stated that the two chiefdoms have done a lot in common so as paramount chief he wanted peace. He described the chief of Gaura as his nephew and urged the people to allow the due process to takes place so that those entrusted with the task will come out with a fair result.
Paramount Chief of Gaura, Moses Sama Bunduka stated that his first promise to his people as a paramount chief was to maintain peace.
Copyright © 2021 Politico Online 10/03/21
