Monrovia – A group of men have staged what has been described as “an insurgency” in the concession area of the Bea Mountain Mining Corporation (BMMC) in Kinjor, Gola Konneh District in Grand Cape Mount County.
Report by A. Mcauley Somabai, [email protected]
Reports from the area indicate that the ‘uprising’ was masterminded by Thompson Darblo, Edwin G.K. Zoedua, Boakai L. Taliferro, Mohammed Dramine, and some prominent citizens.
Locals said the suspects rolled into Kinjor Village at night under the disguise of the men’s traditional “Poro” society, forcing women and children indoor and injuring several innocent villagers. They further stated that the men also extorted cellphones, cash, and personal effect from their victims.
In the wake of the upheaval, Boakai “Jehdee” Swaray, spokesperson of the project affected community of Kinjor, Lansana “Kayknight” Sambola (former Kinjor Town Chief), and E. Siafa “Press the Button” Fahnbulleh mobilized the community in support of peace in the area, resisted the takeover of their village and arrested 12 of the ‘insurgents,’ including “Dr.” Edwin G. K. Zodua (Marvoh Land Administrator), James Kamara, Zoe Foday, William Sando, Varney Zopu, Morris Sheriff Boakai Duke, Emmanuel Askia, Boakai Kamara, Ansu Tarweh, and David King, all of Bomi County.
The sources said the Kinjor Community and the Traditional Council Chairman of Grand Cape Mount County, Chief Haji Sombai, and Traditional Council spokesperson Varney Kangor Fahnbulleh, who were visiting Kinjor at the time moved swiftly to inform the authorities of Grand Cape Mount County and the government about the situation that was unfolding in the mining town.
Acting swiftly, a government delegation led by Asst. Minister Joseph Jangai, County Superintendent Aaron Vincent, and Traditional Council leader Chief Zanzan Karwor, and the traditional Council members in Grand Cape Mount County arrived in Kinjor for initial fact finding the day after the incident.
The government also deployed 16 PSU officers in the Kinjor Community and environs to stabilize the area and restore peace.
A series of weekend meetings followed with the management of BMMC, at the request of stakeholder groups, including the Kinjor Community, Youth Groups-FLY of Grand Cape Mount and Mana/Laah Clans of Gola Konneh District, and the Marvoh and Darblo clans of Gola Konneh District.
These initiatives, the sources told journalists, were supported by radio talk shows in Grand Cape Mount and Bomi counties.
The journalists, who visited the area over the weekend, also learnt that as a direct result of these interventions, the alleged suspect Thompson and his cohorts no longer pose any threats to anyone in the area.
“They can no longer disrupt the operations of the mine or Kinjor Village,” said Jehdee Swaray, spokesperson of the resettled town of New Kinjor village; adding: “We are tired of this habit of disrupting the peace and economic life in this place.”
According to reports, some of the those caught, have begun appealing to officials to intercede for them and grant clemency; while their elders and parents have offered apologies, condemned and disassociated themselves from their children’s actions.
Several alleged backers of the unruly act are now on radio, trying to extricate themselves, while Bomi and Cape Mount citizens are calling for swift government intervention to arrest those on the run, including Thompson and his co-perpetrators.
The citizens believe, this action will help to avert a conflict between two historical allies, the Vais of Cape Mount and the Golas in Cape Mount and Bomi counties.
Mining has since resumed after calm and stability was restored to the concession area.
Investigation continues in the aftermath of the saga relative to actions that will curb the intermittent incitement to violence that have plagued the mining town leaving peaceful residents to live in a state of constant fear and uncertainty over what might befall them later.