Responding to a question from Foni Kansala lawmaker about depriving women from accessing their rice fields at Bwiam and its satellite villages, the Minister said he had engaged the ECOMIG Command on this issue who made it clear that the ECOMIG soldiers were not depriving the people from using their rice fields.
“The community is free to use their rice fields for their agricultural activities,” he elaborated.
The minister has agreed to accompany the Member for Foni Kansala to visit these territorial areas to ascertain that there are no challenges.
The Gambia Armed Forces (GAF) in January 2023 urged residents around border villages in Foni to be vigilant and report any suspected Explosive Ordnance Device (EOD) they may find around their areas to report it to the nearest police station or military camp.
This warning came amidst a response by its Explosive Ordnance Device (EOD) Team 4 Infantry Battalion in Kanilai to the incident of an Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) device around Kampanti village in Foni Kansala District in West Coast Region. The team was led to the site by the alkalo of Kampanti village.
Defence Minister Njie while responding to deputies also informed that his Ministry is always on the guard to ensure safety for the people of Foni whenever they experience an explosive ordinance situation.
Commenting on NAM Gibba’s claims that the GAF contingent deployed in the area to assist the camp in Kanilai has been withdrawn, Minister Njie said: “Our deployment continues to exercise their duty around the border area to give confidence and to restore peace in the area.”
The minister assured of the government's resolve in taking steps to engage the people of Foni and the surrounding communities on the borderline.
“We have engaged the border commission and they have been intensifying their efforts in the area,” he said.
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