Lumley’s Pentagon community was thrown into chaos recently as armed police officers fired live bullets and tear gas at residents protesting a controversial land ownership claim.
The dispute centers around a man named Derrick, who has resurfaced after 30 years, claiming his late father owned 38 acres of land in the community.
Derrick, armed with a court order, asserts his right to the land, despite the fact that current residents possess legal ownership documents for their properties.
The community, rather than dismissing his claim outright, is questioning the validity of his sudden reappearance and the basis of his ownership.
Many are asking why there is no development or structure on the land if it was owned by Derrick’s father, and how the land was acquired in the first place.
Residents have demanded a copy of the court order that Derrick claims supports his case, but he has yet to produce it. Instead, residents allege that he has resorted to using military, police, and hired thugs to intimidate and damage homes and properties in the area, which is home to hundreds of residents and houses worth millions of dollars.
While the case is now awaiting a judgment in the Court of Appeal, Pentagon residents are urging the Sierra Leonean government, particularly the Ministry of Lands, Housing, and Country Planning, to step in before the situation worsens.
The community fears that without immediate intervention, their homes and livelihoods are in serious jeopardy.
Source: Mustapha Dumbuya (Ezekiel)
