-Many residents in Jacob Town community become victims
By Jerromie S. Walters
Over the weekend, chaos erupted in Jacob Town, a local community along the Japanese Freeway in District #2. Montserrado County, as residents and pedestrians faced hours of instability due to a protest over an alleged land dispute.
The protesters, many of whom were believed to be Mandingos, initiated the protest with a riot at the Africa Islamic Center School in Jacob Town, Paynesville, as a reaction to an alleged court order to evict the facility. The school’s Principal Madam Jenneh Sesay informed journalists that the institution has been operating since 1999.
Digging deeper
The root of the conflict is a land dispute between Madam Sesay’s father, who owns the school (Africa Islamic Center School), and a woman only identified as Martha Gweh, who resides in the USA and claims ownership of the land. After the tense protestations, Madam Sesay disclosed that the one lot of land the school is situated on has been in dispute for close to ten years.
The eviction attempt resulted in roadblocks lasting for hours and vandalism that left several vehicles and other properties damaged. Howbeit, she claimed that the protesters were parents of students of the school and they (parents) were in solidarity with them. “The people you saw in the protest are parents of the students of this institution. They are in solidarity with the school, the school is a center, and the school holds many children,” she explained.
In an attempt to restore calm, LNP 102 responded and engaged the protesters to disengage. His presence gave way to the district Lawmaker, Representative Sekou Kanneh, and Montserrado County Senator, Saah H. Joseph to access the facility and enable them to speak to their constituents.
As of Sunday evening, May 19, 2024, the Liberia National Police (LNP) spokesperson, Madam Cecelia Clarke, told this paper that they had no information on the matter.
“We don’t have any information to disseminate now because we have not gotten anything. When we get the information we will release it to the public.”
What happened earlier
During the protest on Saturday, May 18, 2024, Witnesses reported that the protest started peacefully, but later turned violent as aggrieved protesters blocked the main street and took control of the local police depot.
Hours later, the Liberia National Police (LNP) intervened but this wasn’t substantial enough to restore calm in the area as a heated clash sparked up between the protesters and the police that displayed the exchange of live bullets, teargas, and stones. The Police also accused the protesters of using live bullets.
George Mahn, an eyewitness earlier acknowledged that the protesters disrupted movement along the Japanese Freeway. “The people are blocking the road they said nobody should pass. They said no car or motorbike should pass. I walked from Double Bridge here, they blocked the road.
He confirmed seeing the police being stoned by the protesters. “The police went there but they started throwing rocks at the police. They blocked the road and threw stones, sticks, and other weapons at the police.”
Several properties, including vehicles were damaged, while journalists’ equipment was also confiscated after being attacked by the protesters. Upon taking control of the scene, several arrests were made by the Police.
Marketers suffered undue consequences
The protest also had an awkward impact on local businesses, as marketers were forced to close early due to the tension and tear gas used by the police. Masime Fofanah, a food seller, lost all her materials worth LD16,000 during the protest. According to her, the police were chased by the protesters and some of them had to disguise themselves to escape the scene.
Fofana: “They were coming with force that’s how I took my load, I thought they were not reaching the police officers so I went there to hide so they started disturbing the police and throwing stones so I left my market because they (unknown) put tears, I can’t tell because I didn’t see them because I was running to the police but since I came back I have not seen my market.” She added: “I went to Doe Community to buy food materials. I bought half bag of rice, meat, and other things. Almost $LD16,000.”
Blaming the Lawmaker
In a press state following the incident, CDC District #2 Youth League accused the District’s lawmaker, Rep. Sekou Kanneh of fueling what they considered as the Police brutality and destruction of Properties in the Jacob Town Riot.
The group called on the Government to Investigate the matter. “We bring you warm and unapologetic greetings from the CDC Youth League District 2 Chapter, Montserrado Count, our Beloved heritage, the Mighty Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), Residents of our district, members of the press, members of the intellectual class and the entire Republic in general.”
They recalled, “Yesterday, we observed a bloody protest that erupted into chaos, destroying properties and peaceful citizens in our district. A land dispute has sparked serious tensions, leading to a dramatic escalation of events that culminated in the bursting of car windows and wrenches being wielded in the confrontation.
“We blame Hon Sekou S. Kanneh for supporting this civil unrest in our beloved district with his divisive posture. We have reason to believe that Mr. Sekou Sarafoday Kanneh is the one who orchestrated, masterminded, and planned all that happened yesterday causing civil unrest in our beloved district and he should be called for questioning. Fellow Liberians, if you all can retrospect during the campaign this same good-for-nothing, inept, little Kosovo and the father of modern ineptitude, Hon. Kanneh and his gangs disrupted the movement of peaceful citizens in our beloved district,” they noted.
