Deputy Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources, Hon. Umaru Napoleon Koroma, has expressed anger and frustration after his watermelon farm in Kambia was vandalised and the entire crop destroyed by unidentified youths.

Speaking from the farm while surveying the damage, a visibly upset Koroma said he had invested resources to plant watermelon, cucumber, corn, and groundnut on the land, which was being used as a project site for a planned poultry farm. The crops were planted with the help of young people hired from the village.

“Right now the youths are seated at the junction doing nothing. They saw me coming to my watermelon farm and this is frustrating and wicked — they spoiled all the watermelons in the farm,” Koroma said.

According to the Deputy Minister, the farm had been thriving and was scheduled for harvest on Saturday. However, last night, some boys entered the land, stole most of the watermelons, and destroyed the remainder.

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“They park at the junction without doing anything, and at night when people go to bed they come and loot and destroy everything. Later they will blame government and say nothing is progressing in the country. May Allah have mercy on them,” he said.

Koroma explained that the project was intended to support local employment, with young people from the village being paid to assist in planting. He expressed disappointment that those who watched others work chose to destroy rather than participate in productive activities.

“These are the boys who watched and saw others paid to work and plant; last night they came and stole most of it, and not only that but destroyed most of the young watermelons and packed them for us to see,” he said.

The Deputy Minister questioned how such acts of vandalism would inspire further investment in agriculture.

“How would I be inspired to plant here again?” he asked.

He also warned that such destructive behaviour undermines development efforts and food security in the country, urging young people to channel their energy into farming, skills training, and other productive activities.

“If we want to see progress in our country, our youths must be engaged in developmental work. We cannot develop when we are destroying what others are building,” Koroma said.

The Deputy Minister said he had supported the farm with resources and fertilisers and was looking forward to a successful harvest. He added that this was part of the growing trend where young people blame leaders for lack of progress while refusing to engage in meaningful work.

The incident has raised fresh concerns about youth unemployment and the growing frustration among young people in rural communities, even as the government continues to promote agricultural development as part of the national agenda.