By Ragan M. Conteh
The Member of Parliament representing Constituency 111 in the Western Rural District, Hon. Vincent, on 14th November 2019 strongly complained some military officers causing atrocities in his constituency without recourse.
The MP says, military officers dressed in uniforms are constantly engaged in terrorizing his constituents and also grabbing their lands and properties at the Hastings community.He further disclosed that, they have claim to have got orders from State House and the Ministry of Lands to reclaim state lands.
What is disturbing, according to the MP, is that one of his newly constructed and refurbished houses has been seized by the military officers, and that some well armed military personnel are currently living in the building rendering the owner of the house homeless.
The Hon. MP continued that many of the officers he described as ‘miscreant’ claim people’s lands, broke beautiful homes and bring their relatives on the same land or homes they reclaim.
“This is unfair on the side of my constituents, Mr. Speaker my people have been subjected to a dismal situation that needs urged response from relevant stakeholders. I have reported the matter to the Minister of Lands but to no avail,” Hon. cried.
Hon. Vincent claimed that just recently, live bullets were fired just to scare away his people in the community.
Many MPs also reported that some of their family properties and lands have been seized without the due process of the law.
“The Laws of Sierra Leone allow every Sierra Leonean to have access to land and taking land from Sierra Leoneans and give to another Sierra Leoneans is a complete recipe for chaos.”
Speaker of Parliament, Dr. Abass Bundu in a furious mood, expressed his displeasure for such a militia behavior and ordered the Parliamentary Subcommittees on Lands and Defense to swiftly summon the authorities concerned to act on the issue.
According to the Speaker, the complaint ,Hon.Vincent requires urgent attention and promised to take the matter to the highest level, adding that the two committees ordered to look into the matter should report to him come Tuesday for further actions.