The government’s multi-million dollar fishing harbor project has sparked outrage and fear among residents of the Black Johnson and Big Water communities, who awoke to the sudden demolition of homes and resorts this week.

The demolitions, carried out by armed security forces, have left residents displaced and concerned about the project’s environmental impact and a lack of official communication.

The project, announced in 2021, is intended to expand Sierra Leone’s fishing industry and increase export capacity. However, residents are now voicing deep concern over potential environmental damage, including deforestation and coastal erosion.

Eyewitnesses reported a frightening scene on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, as military personnel and police, armed with guns and accompanied by heavy machinery, began tearing down buildings.

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“I saw soldiers and policemen with guns and large trucks,” recounted Fayai Menjor, a resident whose home was destroyed. “They told me they were going to demolish my house. When I asked to retrieve my belongings, they refused. Even when I said my child was inside, they started to demolish my home. I managed to get my child out, but my belongings were destroyed, and the police threatened to shoot me.”

According to the community’s Youth Chairman, Ibrahim Kaloko, residents had previously met with representatives from the Ministry of Lands and Country Planning and the Chinese company contracted to build the harbor. Kaloko stated that the community had initially welcomed the project based on promises of new infrastructure, including electricity, clean drinking water, and a community center.

“We were really happy about the promises, and we were willing to contribute to the government’s plan,” Kaloko said. “But we did not see any of those promises come to reality. We just saw big trucks of machines, and people started to raise concerns.”

Tensions remain high in the communities as residents continue to oppose the project and its potential environmental and social consequences.