Minister of Lands Alleged Attacked by Thugs in Kenema

Dr. Turad Senesie, the Minister of Lands, Housing, and Country Planning, faced an attack orchestrated by thugs allegedly led by a lawyer named Ansumana in Kenema.

Accompanied by the Director of Surveys, Tamba Dauda, and the Regional Director East, Dr. Senesie had undertaken an inspection of the airstrip in Kenema. The visit aimed to assess reported encroachments, with the Airfield Police Post Team accompanying the minister and his entourage.

During the inspection, law enforcement officers arrested a worker at a construction site on encroached state land for disregarding numerous stop-work orders and requests from the ministry for ownership and building authorization documents, as required by law.

Upon interrogation, the suspect claimed to be working under the direction of a Magistrate and displayed unauthorized piles of sand deposited on the disputed site. He promptly contacted a lawyer identified as Ansumana, who arrived at the scene accompanied by a group of unruly individuals in a white Toyota Hilux truck.

Lawyer Ansumana, adopting a confrontational approach, demanded the unconditional release of the suspect from the Minister. His aggressive demeanor incited his accomplices, who began behaving riotously, directing insults and threats of physical violence toward the Minister and his team.

Despite the presence of law enforcement officers, some of the thugs were apprehended for various offenses, including riotous conduct, insulting behavior, building without a permit, and trespassing on state land.

Amid escalating chaos, the Minister was escorted to the Kenema Police Station, where he formally reported the physical and verbal assaults endured by his team during their official duties.

Following the incident, some of the attackers, including Lawyer Ansumana, fled the scene and are currently evading law enforcement authorities.

The Ministry of Lands, Housing, and Country Planning has pledged to closely monitor the situation as police investigations unfold, underscoring the gravity of the assault and the need for swift justice.