Personnel of the Police Intervention Unit (PIU) were swiftly deployed to contain the unrest, firing tear gas to disperse the crowd as the boys were seen throwing stones on the PIU officers. However, the gas drifted into nearby homes, leaving families, including children and the elderly, struggling to breathe.
Two men who protested that the tear gas had entered their compound were arrested on the spot, with police claiming they were obstructing operations. The men, however, insisted they were merely questioning why officers were targeting residential areas when they had no involvement in the inter-house event.
Meanwhile, traders-including a building materials dealer, a barber, and a second-hand clothing seller, were forced to shut their shops in fear, both of the tear gas and of being robbed by opportunistic youths who prowled the park during the chaos.
Traffic from Serrekunda Park to Westfield Gamtel came to a standstill as students were seen fleeing while being chased by PIU personnel. Businessmen in the area stood guard outside their shops to protect themselves and their property from opportunistic youths attempting to launch attacks.
Eyewitnesses reported widespread pickpocketing and theft during inter-house activities, alleging that boys were repeatedly seen forcibly snatching mobile phones and other valuables from passers-by. Residents say such incidents have become routine during inter-house competitions, with criminal elements exploiting the chaos to prey on unsuspecting victims.
Local businessmen expressed frustration, warning that repeated disturbances during inter-house competitions are crippling economic activity. “This is a business centre, and I think the government really need to relocate inter-house far away from the park vicinity,” Malang Gassama, a shop owner lamented, urging the government to ban such events at the park altogether.
Local businessman Gassama expressed deep frustration over the recurring violence at inter-house competitions. “I believe the government should really look into the issue of inter-house as it’s affecting our businesses,” he said. “These boys will forcibly attack you and take your belongings, and you can’t do anything about it. Inter-house should be scrapped because it brings no benefit.”
He added that police intervention often worsens the situation. “When the PIU come to control the crowd, they sometimes throw tear gas. People who have no involvement in the inter-house end up suffering. Whenever there’s inter-house, we barely work because of the fear that it will turn violent.”
Victims of theft also spoke out. Dawda Ceesay recounted his ordeal: “Someone attempted to snatch my phone as I was passing. I resisted and hit him in the face. They didn’t succeed because I am a man, but I’m certain if it had been a woman, they would have managed to take the phone.”
Muhammed Bah, the owner of a barbershop, said he was forced to close his business during the unrest. “I can’t tell you how many phones these boys usually steal during inter-house. They will rob you and run away with your phone. Inter-house always affects my business because I can’t open whenever it turns violent, or when I fear tear gas might reach me.”
The owner of a nearby building materials shop, who requested anonymity, explained: “I am only reopening my shop now. I closed it as soon as the violence erupted. Customers avoid coming here during inter-house because they fear being attacked or caught in the tear gas.”
Residents living close to the park also voiced their concerns. Beatrice Mendy, whose compound is close to the venue, described the situation as intolerable. “The issue of inter-house has become a longstanding problem for nearby compounds, especially in recent years, and now it’s getting worse,” she said.
“The most unfortunate part is that when it turns violent, the police throw tear gas, which really affects us. We have patients and elderly people in our compound, some with asthma and other complications. Tear gas puts their health at serious risk.”
She added that her compound had been struck several times by boys drifting dangerously near the fence. “We want the government to act, because this is seriously affecting us. After school, I had to wait at Westfield for almost two hours before I could get a town-trip taxi to enter our compound safely.”
