- OCTEA Diamond Group mining activity
By Septimus Senessie in Kono
A Fronted Loader Volvo belonging to OCTEA Diamond Group – formerly called Koidu Holdings – with registration number AFR 918 in the evening hours of Friday 21 September killed a 20-month-old child, Victoria Sorie at the resettlement camp at Tankoro in Koidu, Kono.
The child's head was reportedly smashed in a road accident as she reportedly stood in front of her house beside the road.
According to Aiah David Sorie, the company showed up on the following day and gave them Le 2 Million as “compensation to the family”, something he criticised as “an inhuman act”.
He said the child was very far from the street where the machine was operating, referring to the death of his niece as “a big loss” to the family. He called on civil society and human rights organizations to help him get redress.
He blamed the police for not charging the matter to court since the incident happened nor made any arrest.
OCTEA's Chief Communications Officer, Ibrahim Sorie Kamara described the incident as “unfortunate” and denied as “incorrect” allegations of the family that the contribution they made was a compensation. “No one can pay for life” he said, adding that the Le 2 Million the company gave to the family was to sympathise with the bereaved family as “is part of our customs and traditions”.
Three months ago, at the same Resettlement camp, another vehicle belonging to the company killed a pregnant woman as she rode on a commercial motor bike.
Residents in the area told Politico the road accidents could not be unconnected to the narrowness of roads and
their closeness to the camp which were built by the company after property owners were relocated from their houses as the company expanded its operations.
Police at the Tankoro Police Division told Politico that they could not charge the matter to court for want of sufficient evidence.
