The villages include Lamin, New Yundum, Busumballa, Mandinary, Daranka, Kubariko, Kerewan and Makumbaya.
In a press conference organised by members of all theabove-mentioned communities held at Lamin village Bantaba, the occasion witnessed deep discussions into history of the villages to prove the claimant wrong and calledfor government immediate actions for peace.
The elders ofthecommunitiesappealedforgovernment’s intervention to prevent a repeat of the Faraba case just because of one individual.
Fa Ceesay, the Alkalo of Mandinay village revealed that the false claims are a serious concern to the people of Kombo, noting that it is their obligation to inform government and the whole nation of their concern.
He noted that every settlement has its own origin. He pointedoutthat the claimant should have first thought of how the name Kombo came about before making his claims.
He said the name Kombo came into existence before the coming of Rongo’s grandfather into The Gambia from Cassamance, Senegal.
Jammeh E.K. Bojang, the Chairman of Lamin Village Development Committee and a member of Lamin Bulunda Council of Elders stated that Rongo’s claims are baseless.
He said in their efforts to foil the disturbing issue, they went to the Chief, Governor and Ministry of Lands and Local Government but have realised that the gravity of the situation tends to escalate. “It is an issue ofconcern to all communities in Kombo,” he noted.
Fansu Jatta, theAlkalo of Busumbala revealed that the people of Kombo tend to suffer from their own kindness to other people as done by the claimant. He stated that Rongo has the right to go to court to lay his complains, but it should be based on facts.
“We want to inform the publicthat the people of Kombo are ready to stand on their feet to defend and protect what belongs to them,” he said.
Alhagie Sulayman Bojang, the Imam Ratib of Lamin Village urged the elders and Alkalos of Kombo to ensure the history of Kombo iswritten for young ones to learn and know.
He stated that there are elders who have lived in Kombo for the past 90 years, noting that for someone from somewhere to come and claim ownership of a place that does not belong to him or his parents is unacceptable.
He appealed to government through the Ministryof Justice to ensure whensuchcases are broughttocourtthey are urgentlydealtwithtoensure peaceful existence andto alsosave lives.
