Kola Tree Land Saga Laid To Rest
By CBJ-SL TEAM
Hundreds of residents and land owners at the Kola Tree Community in the outskirts of Waterloo, Western Area Rural District Council (WARD-C) are preparing to breath sigh of relief since the prevailing land dispute has taken a new turn as the High Court is expected to deliver final judgement in the matter on Thursday, November 5th, 2026 after waiting for so long.
Meanwhile, several innocent residents have expressed fear for their lives amid allegations of police brutality, ongoing land grabbing, bitter disagreement amongst acclaimed family landlords, comprised the Kamara, Stevens, Sow & Kargbo family respectively.
However, the Kola Tree land saga has taken yet another dramatic dimension, leaving thousands of innocent citizens who are already constructed basic dwelling homes at the site in deep worry for their lives.
More importantly, what began as a bitter battle among people who purchased properties at the designated vast land has now escalated into a full-blown national concern, accusing the deployed security personnel from the Operational Support Division in Freetown directly, instead of involving security personnel stationed at the Waterloo Police Division.
The High Court announced during the previous sitting that it would deliver its final judgment on the next or subsequent hearings within the shortest possible time, a day that thousands of residents, buyers, and family members are anxiously waiting for.
During the latest court proceeding held on the 20th November, 2026, Justice Gander told the court that as long as the said area remains safe and calm, there should be no police presence until the matter is settled amicably in court.
This ruling was intended to reduce tension and protect innocent residents from further harassment even though, the Regional Commander has denied any involvement with regards the Kola Tree Land saga over the deployment of armed police officers on grounds.
However, despite this clear directive, reports emerging from Kola Tree lately suggested that the situation on the ground tells a different story for the fact that the issue of the death of a police personnel, officer French has nothing to do with Kola Tree since the inhuman act took specifically at the Madokeh Village.
Nevertheless, the heart of this long dispute moving within the Kamara, Sow, Stevens and Kargbo Family.
The land in question is at the center of a fierce legal battle among the above mentioned families. caught in the middle of this dispute are land buyers or purchasers from the various families, who now find themselves in serious trouble and uncertainty, either the court’s final judgment will favor them or leave them empty and helpless.
According to a letter from one of the buyers, it captured complaint of police brutality and harassment, disturbing the normal schooling for many kids at Kola Tree and its environs.
On the other hand, for many of those buyers, the land represented a lifetime of savings and a dream of a better future. Now that their dream hangs by a thread as the November 2026 High Court hearing fastly approaches.
Furthered more, the Kola Tree land saga has been further complicated as accusation pointed out that a serving military personnel together with one individual by the name of Amadu Jalloh, popularly known as “Network,” also accused of hiring thugs to disturb the peace in the area all in the name of grabbing large acres of land at the detriment of innocent citizens.
These allegations have sparked outrage among residents and observers alike, with many questioning why security forces appeared to be protecting land grabbers, instead of the innocent citizens they are sworn to protect.
In a growing wave of frustration, land buyers are currently accusing Commissioner Alhaji Samai, Head of the Operational Support Division (OSD), Headquarters, Brookfields in Freetown of unlawfully deploying police officers who only focus on looting the poor masses with impunity while encouraging other persons to brush and clear strategic areas of the conflicted land, despite the matter is still before the court.
Interestingly, these accusations raised serious concerns about the misuse of state security apparatus in a purely civil land dispute, and they have added fuel to an already volatile situation.
Sadly, thousands of disadvantaged citizens are calling on the government through the Office of the Attorney General & Minister of Justice, Office of the Chief Minister, Internal Affairs Ministry and other line Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to intervene promptly and address this ugly situation for the frustrated residents to get Justice and freedom of movement.
