The Governor of the West Coast Region, Lamin Sanneh, on Wednesday testified at the Brikama Magistrates’ Court in the case involving six accused persons.
Assan Sarjo, Modou Lamin Badjie, Amadou Jammeh, Amadou Sarjo, Ebrima Colley and Arness Manjamin are being tried on a charge of disobedience to lawful order.
Governor Sanneh told the court that he recognized all the accused persons and could recall what happened on 9 March 2011.
He said the people of Gidda, Talokoto and the surroundings have a land dispute, adding that he called them to discuss to solve the problem between them, but they could not agree.
Governor Sanneh further adduced that he then sent the technicians, surveyors, the physical planning officer and some security officers to meet the alkalolu of those villages, and some council of elders who got indigenous knowledge to identify the border lines.
“During the process, I was told that some youths were insisting that the demarcation should not be done because is not fair,” Governor Sanneh told the court.
He testified that he requested for the establishment of boundary pillars within the border lines, which was done.
He added that the youths went and tampered with the pillars in the demarcated lines, which was the property of the government.
“As an authority representing the President in the region, I ordered the arrest of those youths, who where the accused persons, and to take them to court,” he said.
He added that nobody has the authority to take the law into ‘your own hands’.
The case was then adjourned to 6 August 2012, for cross-examination.