By Yusupha Jobe
The residents of Sukuta in Kombo North have renewed their call to government, as they are ready to wage war against grabbing of land in their community.
Sukuta residents gathered to call on government to stop any further encroachment on their lands as they said in unison that no additional illegal grabbing of their lands will be allowed.
The call and declaration came up yesterday following the postponement of bail of some of the detainees in Brusubi Police Station till 9th June, 2020.
Dozens of residents of the community were, last week, detained at the Brusubi Police Station following an organised protest over land demolition by officials of Physical Planning and Housing in Sukuta Salagi. This was done as the residents of the village declared ownership of the land area alleging government of illegal grabbing and selling of their landed properties.
Saikou Drammeh, a resident in an interview with reporters following the postponement of a bail process of detainees said in many years now, the community of Sukuta has been witnessing series of illegal land grabbing by the officials of Physical Planning. As they always claim and declare that the reserved land is for government infrastructures while they are selling it to individuals and private housing estates.
“Sukuta is the only community in Kombo that has over 10 private housing estates in the whole country and what have we benefited from them? What we wanted to tell the government and its agencies is that Sukuta will never allow any further illegal grabbing of our lands.
“We will make sure that the demolished land and area is taken back to its original owners and we are ready for it. If government claims to take our lands for a reserves purpose to build schools, Hospitals and markets why will they sell it to individuals and private estate owners,” he asked rhetorically.
Mbe Kura one of the residents disclosed that he has personally participated in the clearing of the demolished land/site with his father as it was used to be their farmlands.
“We have now left with no land area to depend on as owners after all our lands been taken by the government as reserve areas. We cannot be left like this without property to live on,” she stated.
