4 Suspects in Police net in Kono
Report reached this press that four suspects were arrested at Gbesseh Chiefdom, Eastern province Kono District. The four suspects were allegedly arrested on Thursday 3rd June 2010.
In an telephone interview, the Local Unit Commander (LUC) of Kono superintendent Amos Kargbo said there had been illegal mining going on in the chiefdom which has brought about serious confrontation between the two youth groups that are illegally engaged in this mining, he said on that particular day he had a call from the Public Relations Officer (PRO) Aia Kenneth Soka that youths at Gbesseh had engaged in serious fighting at the mining site. As LUC he immediately departed his personnel to the site so they could put the situation under control. In the process four suspects were arrested whilst others who were seriously injured sought medical attention at the Kono government hospital.
Public Relations Officer Aia Kenneth Soka revealed that fighting occured between APC youths and Town youths of Gbesseh chiefdom. He said such is a long standing problem in the chiefdom which they have tried time without number to amend but both party never agrees because of personal interest either from chiefdom stakeholders or government.
PRO Kenneth furthermore alleged that it was the APC youths who went to the mining site and went on the rampage by sending missiles at those who were working at the site, this made the situation go out of hand because the youths early on had claimed that the land belonged to them. The PRO explained the way and manner youths were beaten on that day, as there was some other youths who said that any authority who attempted to intervene they would not take it easy with him.
Chairman of Kono district Council John Yambasu disclosed his dismay about the entire situation as the two groups have no legal right to mine on that land and have been warned several times. In fact, according to him he said there is not power invested into any district or chiefdom to enforce mining activities, it is only the government that has the right to issue license for miners. The Chairman said he has up to fourteen chiefdoms under his jurisdiction but it is only Gbesseh chiefdom that is giving them serious problems and out of this fourteen chiefdoms they have seven which are presently embarked on proper license mining which is what the Gbesseh Youths don’t want to do. He said illegal mining has become the order of the day, youths of Kono district have dug the main street in Sefadu town and that has ruined their road network. Chairman John Yambasu said it is the duty of the district youths to yield for development but that is not the case in Kono, they always go on the opposite side without realizing that their district should been in the front page of development, he stated he regrets being Chairman for a district that has no future.
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