She said the company has been doing this deliberately to acquire lands for their plantation project at cheaper costs, which she said is fueling conflicts among family members.
Hannah revealed that the company uses the Sierra Leone Police to provide undue protection for family members who are on their side and detain those they consider against their interests.
A number of the aggrieved women decided to undertake a peaceful protest march to Pujehun Town to lodge a formal complaint against the company’s management to stakeholders of the district, but officers of the Sierra Leone Police halted and dispersed them at Benga Junction, nine miles off their chiefdom.
According to a spokesperson of the police force, Inspector Michael Turay, their reason for intercepting the women was because they has accessed intelligence that the women were heading to stage a protest in Pujehun Town, which was contrary to the permit they applied for and was granted them to hold a public meeting.
The women said the actions of the Police to prevent them furthering to Pujehun to file their complaints against unfair treatment by the company is usual of the force as they have been used to mistreating residents of the Malen to suit the company’s comfort.
The Communication Officer of SOCFIN, Ismond Moigowa denied the allegation against the company, stating that the women’s actions were politically motivated, but failed to identify the politicians that he alleged were influencing the women.
