There are reports of intense rivalry between two neighboring villages in Nyewruken District, River Gee County, over a piece of land said to be rich in minerals. The rivalry began last month when the people of Kiliken attempted to claim the land which originally belonged to people of the neighboring Paroken.
An eminent citizen of Paroken residing in Monrovia said about seventy-five men armed with machetes forced their way on the property and began seizing mining equipment from miners operating in the area, on ground that the land belonged to them.
Bolton Chea said, among the items confiscated from the miners were water pumps, shovels, gallons of gasoline, buckets, and several bags of rice, and cell phones.
He told the Hot Pepper that the action of the raiders have brought mining operation in the area to a standstill as the Chinese owner of the Company, along with his workers, fled for their lives and have never return.
The Paroken citizen lamented that none of the perpetrators have been arrested for the act, leading to suspicion that authorities of the county are downplaying the terrible act.
Bolton Chea indicated that the piece of land in question is the property of the people of Paroken, dating as far back as 1926, and that the residents will not sit supinely and watch their neighbor forcibly take it away from them.
He called on the superintendent of River Gee County to move swiftly and resolve the crisis in order to avoid a major unrest among the people.
When contacted via cellphone from the county’s capital, Fish Town, Superintendent Mark Sweagebe confirmed the attack on innocent miners in Paroken but stated that the matter is under control.
Superintendent Sweagebe pointed out that investigation is underway to ascertain the truth surrounding the matter, underscoring that those involved will not be spared.
The superintendent emphasized further that after the alleged criminals are identified and brought to justice he will form a mediation team made of chiefs, elders and dean elders to mediate in the matter.
He called on the people of Paroken and Kiliken to refrain from all forms of violence during the investigation, emphasizing that any citizen ignoring his warning will pay a heavy price.
River Gee County, located in the southeast of the country, is rich in minerals but internal rivalries among the people have been scaring away potential investors.