Oldest Congo Town, Monrovia – Families living in the Catholic Community of Oldest Congo Town are asking for help after their homes were torn down without warning. Many say they are now sleeping outside with no food, shelter, or place to go.
By Edwin G. Genoway, Jr(231886458910)-[email protected]
On Saturday, September 27, large bulldozers came into the community. They were guarded by armed police officers and court sheriffs. Within a few hours, several houses were destroyed.
“We were not even given a warning,” said Ma Mary Gaye, a mother of four who has lived in the area for over 20 years. “All I could do was grab my children and run. Everything we owned is gone.”
Court Said the Land Wasn’t Mr. Gaye’s — But Demolitions Continued
The residents say the destruction was ordered by Mr. Stanton V. Gaye, who claims the land belongs to his late family member. But in August 2024, the Supreme Court of Liberia ruled that Mr. Gaye has no right to the land, and that it had already been sold to others many years ago.
To make things even clearer, the Probate Court also gave a warning in September 2024, saying that no one should do business with Mr. Gaye or try to take the land. This type of legal warning is called a Caveat.
Even though both courts said the land does not belong to Mr. Gaye, the demolitions went ahead anyway.
“Why Go to Court If the Law Doesn’t Protect Us?”
“What’s the point of going to court if the ruling means nothing?” asked Thomas Zayzay, one of the affected residents. “We won our case. But today, we’re sleeping outside.”
Many residents believe Mr. Gaye is using his connections with powerful people to ignore the law. They are also very upset that the police were used to help destroy their homes.
“They sprayed tear gas like we were criminals,” said one resident, who asked not to be named. “We are peaceful people. We just want to live where we’ve lived for years.”
More Victims, More Pain
The destruction didn’t just affect one or two families—it hit the whole neighborhood. Victims include Mr. A. Darkpay Johnson, Mrs. Lilian Wonsiah, Rev. Siaway, Mr. Harry Wleh, Mr. Julius Nimley, the Community Chairman, and many more families, some of whom have lived in the area for decades.
What the Community Wants
In an open letter, the residents are asking the government to act quickly. They are calling for the demolitions to stop immediately. They also want Mr. Stanton V. Gaye and anyone else involved in the destruction to be arrested and brought to justice.
They are asking the courts and government officials to fully respect the previous Supreme Court ruling and the Caveat from the Probate Court. Residents also want a fair investigation into whether police and court officers helped Mr. Gaye carry out these actions. Most importantly, they are asking for protection and support for all the families who lost their homes.
The community is not only asking Liberian leaders for help. They are also calling on international human rights groups to step in and make sure this doesn’t happen again.
“We are not squatters. We had court papers to prove we belong here,” said Sarah Johnson, another resident whose home was destroyed. “But it feels like nobody is listening.”
So far, no one from the government or Mr. Gaye’s side has spoken publicly about the incident. But the families say they will not give up.
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