On Thursday April 10, 2025, a pickup full of armed police and court officers were seen rushing in and abruptly evading homes and shops of business people at the main junction of Louisiana Market; breaking down the structures of occupants believed to be residing on a plot of land for a decade or more through arrangements by either the caretaker or property owner. The Office of the Township Commissioner says the Court did not serve his office a copy of the ‘Court Order’ prior to the demolition. Commissioner Moses White acknowledges that there has been no formal complaint to his office neither from the victims nor the individual who claims to be in possession of the land since the incident.
“I met the people living and doing business on the land when I became commissioner of the township. Several communications was sent to them to reach my office for a meeting but they refused to comply saying the land was a private property. I have copies of the documents on file.”
Stating further, it is observed that the demolition is even beyond the owner’s claim and the office of the commissioner is prepared to take up issue with the so-called owner because government has limits of land along the roadside; not due to their victimization in the demolition process because they disrespected my office as business people when I took over and called on them, Commissioner White stated.
On accounts of the victims, they lost several personal effects while fleeing the scene in absolute confusion when a bulldozer was carrying out the demolition exercise. Liberians and aliens as well are currently homeless in disarray and thinking how to start a living all over again.
Speaking to the In Profile Daily last Friday, a group of downhearted business people; majority of who are women showed up in tears expressing their grievances of what led to the unexpected situation they experienced on Thursday afternoon.
“Those who in power are violating our rights and those of us in District #1 Montserrado County do not have anybody to talk for us. I am asking the government to really look in our interest and talk for us because we don’t have any big person to seek our interest,” said Bendu Josiah known to be the chairlady for the victims.
Mamie Karyasu Conteh, Janet Steward, Patience Saydee and others explained that the place was a dumpsite before 2018 when they sought the permission of a man known as ‘Harrison Powell’ who was working in the office of the former commissioner that gave them the go-ahead to start cleaning the place to build their structures. Phone calls to reach Mr. Powell for comments did not yield results.
Asatu Jalloh another Fula merchant who operates a small shop opposite the demolition site broke down in tears when she said they would have taken precaution to vacate the place and their goods couldn’t be vandalized only if they were issued prior notice by the individual who claims the parcel of land.
“We did not receive a paper or notice one day telling us that they were coming to break down our shops. The never pick and choose among the Liberian people and the Fula people when they were destroying the place,” as madam Jalloh explained in grieve.