By Dr. Tonya Musa, Director of Communication and International Relations USL
In a crucial step towards reclaiming its encroached-upon properties, the administration of Fourah Bay College (FBC) met with the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Fayia Sellu, on November 6, 2025. The FBC delegation, led by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Andrew Baio, convened at the IGP’s office to establish a strategic pathway for executing a 2024 court order that mandates the return of illegally occupied college land. Opening the discussions, FBC’s Deputy Registrar, Mr. Brima Bah, commended the Sierra Leone Police for their sustained support in maintaining security on campus.
He provided a background on the court order and explained that its execution had been previously advised to be put on hold. Mr. Bah detailed the negative implications of this delay, including continued and arbitrary land grabbing. He further informed the IGP that the new Deputy Vice-Chancellor has prioritized the retrieval of all FBC properties and the establishment of a sustainable security framework to prevent future encroachment. 2 Echoing this sentiment, Professor Baio thanked the police leadership for their reception and solicited their continued support. He highlighted the urgency of the matter, citing FBC’s upcoming Bicentenary celebration in 2027, a growing student population, and an increasing number of staff, all of which create a pressing need for lecture and accommodation space.
Professor Baio reported significant progress, informing the IGP that the college has engaged Army Engineers to fence the campus and is finalizing preparations for a timely and peaceful execution of the project. “This means the college is more than ready for the execution of the court order,” he stated. In response, IGP Mr. Fayia Sellu acknowledged the college’s concerns and commended its initiatives. He confirmed that the advice to pause the order’s execution, now over a year old, would be reconsidered following further consultations with relevant authorities. The IGP emphasized the importance of post-execution security, warning that without it, the land risks being encroached upon again.
He strongly proposed 3 an immediate stakeholder engagement with surrounding communities to inform them of the impending action. The Deputy Registrar confirmed that the college has already begun interactions with local council and community representatives. All parties resolved to hold joint meetings involving community leaders, the police, and the FBC administration to prepare for the final execution of the court order and ensure a peaceful reclamation process.