By: Kebba Ansu Manneh
A potentially volatile confrontation between armed forestry officials and villagers in Jallangberri, Jarra East District, Lower River Region (LRR), on Wednesday was defused through the timely intervention of Governor Seedy Lamin Bah, according to reliable sources close to the governor’s office. The stand-off, which erupted over the attempted confiscation of allegedly smuggled timber, underscored ongoing tensions surrounding illegal logging and porous borders with Southern Senegal’s Casamance region.
The incident unfolded when armed forestry officers, reportedly acting on orders from the Director of Forestry, Lieutenant Colonel Salifu Corr, a former military officer Former Kanilai Farm Manager & Military Officers Take Over Forestry Department in Controversial Appointments – The Alkamba Times who was appointed earlier this year, stormed a sawmill in Jallangberri to seize timber believed to have been illegally transported across the border from Casamance.
Sources revealed that the timber lacked proper documentation, prompting the officers’ action. However, the move was met with fierce resistance from sawmill operators, workers, and local villagers, who blocked the officers and insisted that no logs would be removed. The situation quickly escalated, with the potential for violence looming as the officers, armed with AK-47 rifles, prepared to use force.
Omar Sanyang, Public Relations Officer for the Timber Dealers Association (TDA), an eyewitness to the events, confirmed the stand-off to The Alkamba Times. “It’s true that there was a stand-off between the people of Jallangberri and some uniformed forestry officers,” Sanyang told this outlet. “This happened when these officers came to one sawmill and wanted to confiscate some timbers, which were blocked by operators and workers found at the sawmill.”
When the armed officers arrived, Sanyang noted that the TDA was already present in Jallangberri, engaging with timber dealers on the issue. “We were on this engagement when the armed officers came and said they were ordered by Director of Forestry, Salifu Corr, to confiscate the timbers, which the dealers, operators, and villagers resisted,” he explained. The presence of AK-47 rifles heightened fears that the situation could spiral into violence, with sources suggesting that without intervention, the confrontation might have led to “possible shooting and killings.”
Governor Seedy Lamin Bah’s swift response proved critical in de-escalating the crisis. According to sources, the governor advised the forestry officials to abandon their confiscation plans and facilitated a dialogue involving all stakeholders, including the TDA, sawmill operators, and villagers. His intervention not only calmed tensions but also led to an agreement that addressed the underlying issues. Under the terms of the agreement, timber owners were required to pay taxes to the state, acknowledging that many of the logs were purchased from smugglers in Casamance who exploit the region’s porous borders to transport timber into Jallangberri using local means.
The incident highlights the broader issue of illegal logging, a global problem driven by high demand for timber and exacerbated by weak enforcement and corruption. Illegal logging involves harvesting, transporting, or selling timber in violation of laws, often facilitated by corrupt practices and lax border controls. In regions like Jallangberri, the proximity to Casamance, where timber smuggling is rampant, complicates efforts to regulate the trade. Smugglers frequently bypass official channels, transporting logs through informal routes and undermining conservation efforts.
Ebrima Sanneh, Regional Forestry Officer for LRR, declined to comment on the incident, stating he was not in a position to speak on the matter. However, multiple sources within the Forestry Department and Jallangberri corroborated the details of the stand-off and the governor’s role in resolving it.
The agreement brokered by Governor Bah represents a step toward addressing the systemic issues of tax evasion and illegal timber trade in the region. By requiring log owners to pay taxes, the deal aims to bring greater accountability to the industry, though challenges remain due to the porous borders and the involvement of smugglers. The TDA’s presence during the incident highlights its role in advocating for timber dealers; however, the broader issue of illegal logging continues to pose significant environmental and economic risks.
