Panic engulfed the communities of Mende Junction, Kamayama, and Pentagon in Western Freetown as violent clashes broke out during a police raid between today and yesterday.

Reports indicate the use of live ammunition and tear gas, with one person confirmed seriously injured amidst the chaos. The violence stems from an escalating land dispute involving claims to 130 hectares of land in Pentagon. Residents have expressed anger and fear as homes have been destroyed and shots fired.

Schools in the area have been forced to close as parents rushed to retrieve their children from the danger zone. According to local sources, the unrest centers on Derick Thoronka, who has laid claim to 38 acres of land in Pentagon, asserting that his late father was the rightful owner of the entire area.

Thoronka’s claims have stirred significant tension, leading to widespread violence and instability in the region.

Thoronka, who surfaced after more than 30 years, is armed with a purported court order, stating that the land belongs to him by statutory declaration. However, residents, many of whom possess legal documents for their properties, have challenged his claim. They question why Thoronka had been absent for decades and how he could own the land without ever establishing a presence in the community.

“This community is filled with homes worth millions of dollars, and yet Derrick claims ownership without a single structure here,” said one angry resident, questioning the validity of Thoronka’s claim. “We have repeatedly asked for a copy of this court order, but no one has seen it.”

Despite the ongoing court case, Thoronka has allegedly enlisted the support of military, police forces, and local thugs to forcibly seize properties, leading to the current escalation of violence. Many residents feel helpless as their homes are vandalized and their safety is threatened.

The Pentagon community is now calling for urgent government intervention, with appeals made directly to President Julius Maada Bio, First Lady Fatima Bio, and Chief Minister David Sengeh to address the injustice and restore order.

Tensions flared further in Kamayama this afternoon when gunfire erupted. According to eyewitness accounts, an individual uninvolved in the clash was shot but remains alive. Police reportedly intervened to aid Thoronka in his land seizure efforts, sparking the violence that has now engulfed the region.

Authorities are working to contain the situation, but residents fear the violence may escalate further. “We are praying this does not get out of hand,” a local activist said. “We’re calling on civil society organizations, bloggers, and social media influencers to stand with us in this fight for justice.”

With thousands of people affected, the situation remains volatile, and the Pentagon community is bracing for more unrest as the court’s ruling on Thoronka’s land claim remains pending. The future of the residents, many of whom face losing their homes, hangs in the balance as they seek protection from what they see as an abuse of power and influence by Thoronka.

The situation underscores the growing divide between the powerful and the poor in Sierra Leone, as ordinary citizens find themselves caught in the crossfire of land disputes and political maneuvering.