More than seven (7) houses were reportedly set on fire last night at Kerr Mot Ali, Upper Saloum District, Central River Region, (CRR) by followers of the late Shering Ndigal.
This is the second time precisely one year since a similar incident occurred in the village when houses of the village Alkalo were set on fire.
Fafa Secka, a resident of the village told The Alkamba Times that arsonists used the cover of the night to attack the village setting fires on more than seven houses in the community, between 3:30 am and 4 am in the early morning when most residents were asleep.
He revealed that four homes were set ablaze plus three other houses in another compound, adding that the act was done by followers of late Shering Ndigal who are less than 1kilometre away from Kerr Mot Ali.
Secka said most villagers are living in a state of fear amid the threat of imminent attacks from the attackers.
Lamin Sowe, a victim of the latest incident said the alleged perpetrators first attacked just after midnight on Wednesday burning the thatched grass he planned to roof his house with.
Villagers say the attack could not be carried out as planned because most residents weren’t asleep at the time.
According to him, at around half past three on Friday night the alleged perpetrators came back again and succeed in burning three houses including the home of the Village Imam.
“Around 3:30 am to 4 am on Friday I heard the burning of my thatched room and before I could move out to alarm the rest of the family, the fire spread to other buildings housing my wives. I had little burns on my body and lost some of my valuable books, foodstuff, and clothes among others,” Lamin Sowe, an Islamic Scholar with nearly twenty (20) students explained.
Sowe accused the followers of the late Shering Ndigal of the fires, disclosing that his village has been continually threatened by followers of the late Shering Ndigal to leave the village or pay a heavy price.
However, Lamin Secka, a follower of the late Shering Ndigal denied the allegations describing them as false and mere speculation meant to distract them at their refuge in Senegal.
Secka said a follower of his marabout was identified among the arsonists who burnt down houses in Kerr Mot Ali, adding that on Friday night followers of the late Shering Ndigal held a religious gathering throughout the night and only came to know about the incident lately.
He said one of the followers who attended the religious gathering among others was attacked at Kerr Mot Ali on their way home, noting that their vehicle was destroyed but police failed to make any arrests at the scene.
He told Alkamba Times that most of the people currently living at Kerr Mot Ali are Senegalese allowed to occupy their compounds to the detriment of the original villagers who now refuge in Senegal.
The Ndigal follower said a high court judgment delivered in their favor is yet to be executed as they cannot access their village due to interference.
