By Allieu Sahid Tunkara
A credible source has told Nightwatch that the security threats at Makabie and Kithboi village in Yonibana is caused by political differences.
The source intimated this medium that most of the villages in the chiefdom belong to the opposition party except Makabie village which belonged to the ruling party.
The village, Makabie came into existence when a portion of land was offered them by the ancestors of Kithboi village.
Over the years, the village grew and intermarriages took place between the two villages. They lived peacefully and cooperatively.
But, the relationship changed immediately from that of peace to conflict following the advent of MAIRO, an agricultural project that cultivates trees used to manufacture certain products.
Kithboi residents who believed that the land belongs to them are now threatening Makabie residents to vacate.
But, the latter are not inclined to leave the land saying they have nowhere to go. Makabie residents believed that they have always been in occupation of the land for over a century and that such occupation has never been challenged by anyone.
The source who hailed from the said village is a senior government official resident in Freetown.
He told Nightwatch his late father had stayed in the Mendeland for several years. “During that time, my father was able to get some money through diamond digging which he used to finance my education,” the source said.
From that time, the source went on, the village had always been in support of the ruling party as the influence of his late father was still felt. Following the coming of SLPP to power, the Kithboi residents who largely support the main opposition party are now forcing residents to quit owing to political differences.
In a bid to achieve their goal, Kithboi residents have got the support of two villages, Bokanbanbay and Melempeh villages who continue to cause violence on the residents. For several years, the residents of Makabie have seen several attacks which have resulted into the burning down of three houses.
The unabated attacks have forced most of the residents out of Makabie village including the former village head, Andrew Kamara who sought refuge in a village in Moyamba district.
Owing to the ensuing violence, Kithboi residents, have banned residents at Makabie village from entering bushes and rivers where they farm to eke a living.
The ban has created livelihood problems for the residents in Makabie as they could not farm and fish in the rivers. Any attempt to cultivate their land would be met with violence.
Following the escape of the erstwhile headman, by popular consent, Abass Koroma is the current headof Makabie village. He and five men currently reside there to keep guard. Koroma told Nightwatch that they survived by begging from people in the surrounding villages. “We live on begging because we cannot do any work in the bush and in the swamplands,” he said. “We are afraid to work because they, most times, destroy our crops making life very difficult,” Koroma said.
Koroma’s narration about the ban on their farmlands was added weight to by one of the elders of Makabie village, Abdulrahman Samura. He confirmed the suffering they were going through in the hands of Kithboi residents. “Over five years, we cannot enter our bushes or swamps to carry out agriculture there,” Samura said. “Life is extremely difficult for us,” he emphasised.
Makabie residents have been badly affected by the ban and they appeal to the authorities to intervene and make a difference.
Owing to the appeals, local authorities and community stake holders including the two paramount chiefs, Kapr Sanka Koroma, the regent Chief and Paramount Chief, Gbagbereh have made a number of attempts to bring peace to the two villages. However, the intervention to bring peace in a polarised situation has not made any difference. Kithboi residents want to see the backs of Makabie residents from a land, the former said, were theirs.
Over a week ago, women and girls in Makabie village who were caught fishing in Makabie river, were tortured. The women are struggling with the pains meted to them. Most frightening is the torture to which three girls including a 10-year old, Adam Kanu were also subjected to.
The little girl, Adama currently suffer from swollen hands as she was tied down for hours before she was released.
Last Sunday, local authorities and community stakeholders in both chiefdoms converged at the residence of the former regent chief, Konto Koroma including the local unit commander to broker a peace deal between the two parties. The dispute resolution did not end with solutions as Kithboi residents insisted that the land occupied by Makabie residents is theirs. “They must leave or justice takes its course,” one of the elders said.
Owing to the violence, 12 suspects have been charged to court for the alleged brutality. They are expected to appear in court on the 6th, next month.
Party Politics Threatens Peace At Makabie
