By Prince J Musa in Kenema
As encroachment continues in the Kambui Forest in Kenema with all the environmental dangers involved, the National Protective Area Authority (NPAA) has apprehended 11 illegal settlers in the forest area.
The arrests took place on the 14th of February, 2024 in the presence of various stakeholders in the district.
NPAA Eastern Region Coordinator, Bockarie Kowa confirmed to Politico that they arrested the illegal occupants as the forest has been under serious encroachment and that if urgent action was not taken through the support of local authorities in Kenema, the future safety of the district will be seriously threatened.
He stated that they received an intelligence report that people from Freetown do charcoal burning in the Kambui forest and that residents around the area have raised concerns about that. He commended the Eastern Region Police Commissioner and the Second Infantry Brigade Commander of the Military for the support provided to NPAA in carrying out the operations successfully and appealed for the continuation of the joint efforts.
Kowa emphasized that plundering of the forest by way of massive timber logging, charcoal burning, and gold mining pose serious environmental hazards. He appealed to the authorities to continue supporting NPAA in protecting the forest for the general benefit of all. He further stated that the 11 arrested illegal occupants are now with the police for further investigations while they have presented their summary report on the matter.
According to the Police Media Officer East, Inspector Prince Barnard Jaygboi Kamara, the outcome of the Provincial Security Committee meeting instituted a joint force to raid the Kambui forest sometime last week. Inspector Kamara stated that police have over the years received many reports from the Sierra Leone Water Company (SALWACO) of ongoing illegal mining in the Kambui forest that has caused the dam to grapple with low water supply to residents of Kenema. He further said that the concerns raised became a top priority to the security sector which warranted them to summon the NPAA top management to ascertain what they are doing to protect the forest.
He affirmed that upon completing the investigation of the 11 suspects, they will inform the media whether the matter is to be charged to court.
Copyright (c) 2024 (Politico 02/02/24)
