At least three people including a pregnant woman Buntu Kamara, and the Councillor for Ward 191 Abu Bakar Kamara following a land dispute in Kukuna Town, Bramaia Chiefdom, Kambia District.
According to Buntu who was carrying an eight month pregnancy, on Friday, June 24, 2022, she was working in her garden when a group of people from the Memaseiduya family, including relatives of Kandeh Momoh De-phoreh Dumbuya II, Paramount Chief of Bramaia, allegedly attacked her and beat her mercilessly.
She explained, “After some of the relatives of PC Kandeh Momoh including Lamin Kamara, Foday Samba Dumbuya etc, attacked me while was working in my garden, and told me that I had no right to work there. They immediately started uprooting my crops. When I told them to stop, I was rushed at and mercilessly beaten. Some were kicking my belly while others were slapping my face. Even with my condition, they showed no mercy.”
Now I am wondering if I will be able to have a safe delivery. And if I do, what condition would my unborn child be in? I need justice. I am presently admitted at the Kambia Government Hospital for treatment. Since then, I have received no attention from those people nor from the PC.”
Medical reports from Kambia Government Hospital on Friday July 1,2022, stated that Buntu had two wounds causing her to bleed and having stomachache.
Councilor Abu Baker that having resisted the PC from gaining ownership of their land, he became angry and started persecuting his family. “Me being a Councillor, our PC has never allowed me to be part of anything in the chiefdom since my family had refused him to take control of our own land. In August 24, 2021 after I have summoned one of his relatives who sold some pieces of our land without our notice, PC Momoh then had to restrict every one of us from utilizing our own land,” he said.
Councilor said that PC Momoh on September 8, 2021, restricted farming, infrastructural, commercial and all other activities from taking place on the land.
“So, as farmers, one of my sisters then made a small garden beside the land; it was not even on our own land. On Friday June 24,2022 my sister’s crops were uprooted and she was beaten severely by the relatives of the PC including Lamin Kamara alias Lamzo Body. While I was gathering the uprooted crops for an exhibit, I was also beaten by the men with sticks and other unknown objects,” Councilor said.
Councillor added that on Friday, July 1, 2022 he was detained at the Kambia police station. “I spent three days in police detention in Kambia. The police told me that our PC ordered them to do so, saying that I have been a threat to his government,” he concluded.
Lamin Kamara alias Lamzo Body, one of the accused from the Memaseiduya family, speaking on behalf of colleagues, explained that on Friday, June 24, 2022 having heard that some of the residents were farming on the said land which PC Momoh had restricted people from using, they visited the place to find space where they would grow their crops. “But we never knew that there was an ambush made by Councillor and his family. As soon as we approached the land, my brothers and I were attacked with sticks by the Darbockaria [family] where the councillor belongs. We were all assaulted.”
Kamara said they did not beat anyone from the Darbockariya family. “I was scolded by Buntu, but we never touched her having known her status as a pregnant woman. The land belongs to us all. We need to use it in peace,” he said.
Saied Conteh, the Crime officer in Kambia Police station, said that they were investigating the matter but were yet to come to a conclusion. “The matter is still with us in Kambia; we are still investigating it,” he said.
According to PC Kandeh Momoh De-phoreh II, all that had been said about him were lies. “All you are hearing are mere allegations with the intention to smear my image. But you may contact the following people: Lamzo Body, Foday Samba Dumbuya and Momodu Haddi Kamara, who may also give help. The arrest and detention of Councillor Abu Bakarr Kamara at the Kambia Police station could be better explained by the police themselves,” he said.
By Abdulai Dumbuya and Ibrahim S. Bangura