Some residents of the Waterloo community have fearlessly encroached into the 600m Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces firing range set aside for live firing exercises to enable soldiers to demonstrate their skills in the use of different weapons.
A number of dwelling houses are scattered all over the demarcated land that has over the years been used by the RSLAF to train soldiers in handling weapons.
Not even the live firing skills at arms competition held last week at the range could scare away residents occupying the encroached areas. Some people within the locality were even seen conveniently carrying on their usual activities of farming while the live firing exercise was going on in the same area.
Speaking with the Deputy Chief of Defence Staff on this issue, Brig Robert Y. Koroma intimated this press that for over 10 to 15 years now the RSLAF has been issuing strict warning to civilians to keep off the land as that area had been demarcated as a danger zone.
The Deputy CDS said every year the military will go on radio to notify, educate and sensitize the public on live firing activities and no civilian is expected to be around that danger zone while firing is going on.
Brig. R.Y Koroma further explained that the Ministry of Defence has even approached the Ministry of Lands and Country Planning so that the RSLAF could regain those encroached areas again.
He added that the current Minister of Lands Dr Denis Sandy has given the RSLAF orders to demolish all illegal structures that are within the firing range after he paid a visit to the area.
Awoko went further to get the version of residents within the area and in the process our reporter caught up with Adama Kanu who was busy working in her garden beside her house as the RSLAF Skills at Arms competition was ongoing.
When Adama was asked whether she was aware of the fact that her house was inside the firing range which signifies that she was living in a danger zone, she said she was just a tenant of the house and the landlord was living inside Waterloo town.
Adama however admitted to the fact that she was living in a danger zone but she had no option because houses inside the town are very expensive and living in the area gives her an opportunity to engage herself in some gardening to support her children.
By William Freeman
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