March 18, 2021
James Kamara-Manneh &Joseph Tengbeh (Moyamba)
Residents of Bagruwa Chiefdom, Moyamba district are calling on relevant stakeholders in the district and the country as a whole to reinstate their Paramount Chief Robert Coker Seilolo Papawe III.
It is almost a year since the Paramount chief was allegedly accused of cannibalism relating to a 45 year old man who was found dead by fishermen on the shores of a river in the chiefdom. Due to this accusation, youths in the chiefdom attacked the resident of the Paramount Chief and burnt down his the house, rendering him homeless, without vehicle and incurred property loss in Millions of Leones.
In an interview with A-Z reporter, PC Papawe III said he was placed in custody for an allegation he knows nothing about and that the Police authority in B district where the matter was assigned vindicated eleven of them that were apprehended. He said after a month spent in police custody, members from the Ministry of Local Council including the Minister Tamba Lamina, Deputy Minister Madam Melrose Kargbo, Permanent Secretaries and directors visited the chiefdom. He said their findings also revealed that he was innocent about the accusation. They then promised to reinstate him which has not happened yet.
According to the Chief, “though no specific date has been set for his reinstatement, he equally so appreciates the efforts of the authorities to ensure he returns and assume his position as traditional leader.
He says he looks forward meeting his subjects and other stakeholders to resolve the issue and harmonize relationship since the office of the Attorney General has looked into the matter and found nothing against him.
However, PC Papawe revealed that none of the perpetrators that burnt his house have been apprehended nor invited by the Police.
He called on the authorities in charge to ensure that justice id delivered by bringing to book Cyril Momoh Rogers, Baba Fofanah et al.
PC Papawe III is very grateful to the government for some form of financial support notwithstanding his absence from the chiefdom.
A-Z Newspaper has gathered that a parallel administration had been installed in the absence the paramount chief but the subjects are looking forward to the return of the substantive PC Papawe 111.
The residents are also calling on the attention of government to consider compensation for the chief’s lost property and burnt home.