By: Kebba Ansu Manneh
A simmering land dispute between Mbolbuck Village and its neighboring community, Sare Nyanga Jallube, has escalated into a full-blown crisis, threatening the peace of one of Naini District’s oldest communities. Alkalo Yero Kandeh of Mbolbuck has accused Alkalo Drammeh Jallow of Sare Nyanga Jallube of orchestrating a forceful land grab, allegedly with the backing of Naini District Chief Seyfo Pierre Bah and Central River Region Governor Ousman Bah. The conflict has led to arrests, heightened tensions, and urgent calls for government intervention to prevent further escalation.
At the heart of the dispute is a contested boundary that Mbolbuck villagers claim has been arbitrarily redrawn to favor Sare Nyanga Jallube.
According to Alkalo Kandeh, Mbolbuck, one of the earliest settlements in the region, has cultivated the disputed farmlands for over six decades without challenge. “We were the first settlers here and have hosted many neighboring villages,” Kandeh said in an impassioned address to the community. “For over sixty years, we’ve farmed these lands without conflict. But now, the Alkalo of Sare Nyanga Jallube, supported by the Chief and Governor, is claiming our ancestral lands.”
The dispute intensified when Alkalo Jallow allegedly presented a document from the 1970s declaring the main highway as the official boundary between the two villages—a claim Mbolbuck residents vehemently reject. Kandeh insists the only recognized boundary was established when Sare Nyanga Jallube was founded, years after Mbolbuck’s establishment, with an animal track serving as the dividing line. “All community leaders in this area know about this,” Kandeh said, a claim corroborated by several elders from Mbolbuck, Sare Nyanga Jallube, and other neighboring villages.
Tensions escalated when Mbolbuck leaders sought intervention from Chief Pierre Bah, only to face further frustration. According to Kandeh, Chief Bah visited the village twice, urging residents to accept the highway as the new boundary. “We refused because this feels like an unjust land grab,” Kandeh said. The situation deteriorated further when Governor Ousman Bah reportedly produced the same disputed document during a last-minute meeting, a move that infuriated the villagers of Mbolbuck. “We have cleared and cultivated these farmlands uninterrupted for more than 60 years, including last year,” Kandeh said. “For the Chief and Governor to demand we stop without due process is unacceptable.”
The conflict took a troubling turn when Kuntaur Police, accompanied by paramilitary officers, arrested eight Mbolbuck youths for farming on the disputed land. “Our youths were detained for simply sowing seeds on land we’ve used for generations,” Kandeh lamented. “Meanwhile, Sare Nyanga villagers—including the Alkalo’s family—continue farming there unchecked.”
He condemned the arrests as politically motivated, accusing the Chief and Governor of bias in favor of Sare Nyanga Jallube. Kandeh revealed that Mbolbuck had previously reported threats from Alkalo Jallow to the police, including in a letter to the Governor and Commissioner of Police, but received no response. “But now they are happy to arrest our youth for cultivating our lands. Where is the justice in that?” he asked.
Chief Pierre Bah, when contacted, denied any role in orchestrating the dispute, attributing the boundary demarcation to decisions made over fifty years ago by former Chief Dudu Ndow. “I was very young when this boundary was set,” Bah said. “The highway was established as the border by previous leaders—I’m only upholding history.” Governor Ousman Bah was unavailable for comment at the time of reporting.
The historical context of the dispute adds further complexity. Kandeh emphasized that past Alkalos of Sare Nyanga Jallube, including its founder Jaraff Kandeh, never contested Mbolbuck’s farmlands. “My father hosted Sare Nyanga’s first settlers,” Kandeh said. “None of their previous leaders disputed our land. Now, after decades, Alkalo Drammeh Jallow is making claims backed by questionable documents.” Community elders from across the region have supported Kandeh’s account, affirming Mbolbuck’s status as the area’s earliest settlement.
As the standoff continues, the dispute threatens to disrupt farming activities, which are critical to the livelihoods of Mbolbuck residents. With the planting season underway, the arrests and ongoing tensions have left the community on edge. “We demand justice,” Kandeh declared. “Our people cannot be barred from their livelihoods while others take over our land unchallenged.” He has called on the Ministers of Lands and Agriculture to intervene urgently, warning that without a fair and transparent resolution, the situation could escalate into further confrontations.
The land dispute has cast a shadow over the historically peaceful coexistence of Mbolbuck and its neighbors, raising questions about governance, transparency, and the protection of ancestral rights. As both villages await a resolution, the region watches closely, hoping for a solution that restores harmony and upholds justice.
