Parties clash for land in Margibi

Two opposing parties to a disputed six lots of land clashed over the weekend in Kpan Town, lower Margibi County. Fist fight broke out between followers of Mr. Jenkins Marwolo and Mr. Joseph Blama Swary when one of the parties attempted to conduct an investigative survey of the property in question.

In separate interviews with the parties, Mr. Marwolo told the NewDawn that the land in question belongs to him and not for the Swary family. He claims to have bought the parcel of land in 1988 from the late Ma Tiegay Jusu Kamara, but notes that he was unable to construct on the land due to the civil crisis here.

Mr. Marwolo says after the war had subsided here, he returned to see the land but shockingly saw two zinc houses owned by Mr. Swary on the disputed land. For his part, Mr. Joseph Blama Swary, who is about 76 years old, denies Mr. Marwolo’s claims, saying the land does not belong to the latter.

According to Mr. Swary, the person identified as the original owner of the disputed land by Mr. Marwolo was far from the actual picture when it comes to who owned the parcel of land.

Mr. Swary claims that contrary to Mr. Marwolo’s claims of buying the land in 1988, he (Swary) acquired the land in 1968 from Konah Tarnu Jangabah who, according to him died several years ago.

Mr. Swary says he has been living there. Meanwhile, the fight between the two parties led to minor injuries on both sides, with some of the fighters sustaining wounds on their legs, hands and faces and treated at the Firestone Medical Center. They were later discharged.

By Emmanuel Mondaye–Edited by Winston W. Parley