By Lemuella Tarawallie
SLPP Member of Parliament representing Moyamba District, Hon. Mustapha Musa Sellu, has raised an urgent alarm in Parliament over a deadly clash between communities in Kargboro Chiefdom.
Speaking on Tuesday, 19th May 2026, under S.O. 23, Hon. Sellu revealed that violence erupted between the communities of Mokaisay and Ngeihun over a disputed farmland in Moyamba District. The confrontation resulted in the death of one person, while six others sustained serious injuries and are currently receiving treatment at the Moyamba Government Hospital.
According to him, the situation remains highly tense despite the intervention of security personnel and local leaders. He further disclosed that the deceased has been transferred to the mortuary in Bo, while fears of retaliation continue to grow in the affected communities.
“The situation in that community is very serious,” Hon. Sellu told Parliament, noting that the affected coastal settlements are made up of nearly 90 percent Sherbro-speaking inhabitants, many of whom do not speak Krio or Mende.
The MP commended the efforts of the Assistant Inspector General of Police, fellow Members of Parliament, and security officers who responded promptly after distress calls were made during the crisis.
However, Hon. Sellu criticized the approach of the Local Unit Commander (LUC) in Moyamba, arguing that the intervention lacked cultural sensitivity toward grieving community members.
He explained that when the police commander arrived at the scene, she used a public address system and played loud music while calling residents to gather and give statements regarding the incident.
Hon. Sellu said he cautioned the officer, stressing that the community was in mourning and emotions were still high.
“I told the Madam LUC that the aggrieved community members were making angry comments in their local language, which she could not understand. They had just lost their brothers and fathers, yet loud music was being played while calling people to make statements. That was not acceptable,” he said.
He further emphasized that traditional customs and local engagement are essential when handling conflicts in remote Sherbro-dominated coastal communities.
The MP warned that tensions were escalating further, with reports that some residents were beginning to flee the affected area. He also confirmed that several houses were destroyed during the violence, describing the situation as a serious security concern requiring urgent national attention.
Hon. Sellu appealed to the Office of National Security (ONS), the Sierra Leone Police, district authorities, and other stakeholders to urgently intervene, especially during ongoing burial arrangements, to prevent retaliatory attacks and restore calm.
“This will not be a one-day process. It requires continuous dialogue and community engagement to restore peace and sanity,” he emphasized.
In response, the Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas, directed the Chairman of the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Internal Affairs, Hon. Moses Edwin, to urgently engage the Secretary to the Government, the Office of National Security, and other security agencies on the matter.
The Speaker further instructed that immediate action be taken and feedback submitted to Parliament on efforts to restore peace in the affected communities.
