-Following Gov’t Demolition Airstrip Rehabilitation
Sanniquellie, Nimba County – Families left homeless by the ongoing Sanniquellie Airstrip rehabilitation project are pleading with local authorities for adequate compensation after their homes were demolished without warning. The controversial demolitions, which began last week, have affected hundreds of residents who had built homes and businesses on what authorities claim is government-owned land adjacent to the airstrip.
Francis Woyenneh, one of the affected residents, described returning from work to find bulldozers demolishing his family home. “I left for work in the morning and came back at lunch to see my house being destroyed,” Woyenneh said. Like many others, he acknowledged the importance of the airstrip rehabilitation but criticized the lack of proper notice or relocation plans for displaced families.
The demolitions have exposed a complex land ownership dispute, with many residents having purchased plots from local chief Robert Sehneah, who claims hereditary rights to portions of the land. M. Dadba Lamie, who invested $3,000 in his property in 2012, explained that Chief Sehneah repeatedly promised but never delivered proper documentation for the land transactions.
Nimba County Superintendent Kou Meapeh Gono confirmed that authorities are documenting destroyed properties for potential compensation, though no specific amounts or timelines have been provided. The $30,000 rehabilitation project, funded by Samaritan’s Purse International, aims to create a 300-meter runway to boost tourism and economic activity in the region.
Affected residents now demand immediate housing assistance, a transparent compensation process, and better community consultation for future development projects.
