Tensions are rising within the Krio community following allegations that personnel from the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) forcibly entered and demolished structures on the Krio Descendants Union (KDU) building site at Sir Samuel Lewis Road, Murray Town, in the early hours of Friday, July 11.
The site was earmarked for the long-anticipated “Krio Ose,” a cultural and community centre intended to celebrate and preserve Krio heritage. Significant progress had been made on the project, with concrete pillars already erected to form part of the foundation. However, according to Melbourne Garber, a veteran structural engineer and prominent KDU member, the military carried out the demolition without any prior notice, legal documentation, or court order.
“I am extremely enraged and distressed that the Sierra Leone military at Murray Town took it upon themselves to trespass and destroy property belonging to the KDU without legal authority,” Garber lamented in a social media post.
He further claimed that the land in question had been legally leased to the KDU by the Freetown City Council, challenging the military’s assertion that it belonged to them.
Garber described the demolition as a blatant act of lawlessness and noted that the project had already cost the Union more than Le600 million (Old Leones).
“They carried out this destruction during ungodly hours like thieves in the night,” he added.
In a statement circulated to members of the KDU both at home and abroad, a Union representative confirmed that all legal documentation supporting the KDU’s claim to the land was intact and issued by the Freetown City Council.
The representative condemned the incident as both “disheartening and deeply troubling,” revealing that despite “frantic efforts in various quarters” to resolve the matter, no headway had been made.
“There is growing concern within the Union that this may not simply be about land, but politics,” the representative stated, calling on members to remain united as the KDU explores legal options to seek justice.
The incident has ignited broader conversations about land rights, military involvement in civil affairs, and the treatment of minority cultural projects in Sierra Leone. Across social media and in community circles, many Krios are demanding transparency and accountability.
As legal consultations continue, one lingering question remains: will justice prevail, or will this act of destruction go unpunished?
Source: SierraEye
