September 28, 2021
By: KAMAL M. BARRIE (KENEMA)
On the 24th September 2021 at the early morning hours, fifteen people boarded a rowboat that was paddled by one Bockarie Kallon from Gandhun Village crossing point to Kenema, later reports had it that six passengers died whiles nine survived the ordeal.
Speaking to Ward 36 Councilor, Mr. Vandi Alpha who made the revelation stated that on that day he received a distressed call informing him that six of his community people have died in the Gandhun Moa Crossing point in the Dama Chiefdom towards the Nongowa Chiefdom of Kenema City.
He was given details on how the water velocity was so intense but since the crossing point was the shortest path the people decided to cross.
Councilor Vandi Alpha further maintained that all six people are farmers except three who have been doing petty trading and one who is a Community pupil teacher and a candidate in the ongoing WASSCE exams.
“I was shocked at the information I recieved. Iye Samai is a 25 years old lady. She took two Million four hundred thousand Leones from my wife to do business on that very day and she has died with it. Emma Brima is about 30 years. Hawa Sao is also about 30 years old. Koroma Brima is over 36 years. Bockarie Albert is 30 years and Bockarie Moisa 30 years old is a community teacher at Konjo Islamic Welfare Union. The five of them are all indigenes of Gandhun Village and one from Konjo village in the Dama Chiefdom Kenema District. Up-to-date we are unable to see their remains. We have reported the incident to our Paramount Chief PC Sandi Momoh Fowai, to the Sierra Leone Police, Office of National Security-ONS, District Council Chairman and other relevant Stakeholders”, Councilor Vandi Alpha lamented.
Bockarie Kallon, who was rowing the Canoe, explained how the storm unexpectedly swept the canoe and landed into the sea including everybody. He said they were fifteen in the boat crossing to the Pujehun community in Kenema City when this unfortunate incident happened.
Although he said he has been ferrying people at the same crossing point for several years nothing like such has happened.
He pleaded to government to come to the aid of bereaved families as they have left young children and aged ones who are dependents of the drowned people.
Speaking to this medium, the Town Chief of Gandhun Village Chief Boima with tears dribbling his eyes lamented the calamity that has befallen their community. He said all the six people are breadwinners.
“They are farmers and petty traders who took Microcredit loans at the VSLA and other community people. All their monies including their properties have sunk. We have done our best but we are unable to see their remains. The people that drowned are Emma Brima, Iye Samai, Hawa Sao, Bockarie Moisa, Koroma Brima and Bockarie Albert. We have a community bye law in relation to how people cross the Moa through our village when the river over power but on that day the water was in a less position. We don’t know why, as it has happened once but that was years back. This crossing point has been in use for over 100-200 years by our forefathers as the place is about three miles to Kenema. We are appealing to government to come to our aid” Chief Boima of Gandhun Village explained.
He further revealed that every day they have people diving into the moa river in search of the remains; none has been found till press time.