Land Dispute Leaves Residents of Dixville Township in Fears

By Mark N. Mengonfia- mmenginfia@gmail.com

MONROVIA-Some Residents of the Dixville Township have expressed fears for their lives as land dispute lingers over who owns the 11. 5 acres of land in that part of Liberia.

The Residents are therefore calling on the Government through, the Liberia Land Authority to intervene so as to prevent casualties.

The disputed land in question according to them was originally bought by the late Mother Victoria Young, former Owner of the Fatima Cottage Orphanage Home in Dixville Township from the current claimer’s Mother.

Marpu Young, the Daughter of the late Mother Victoria Young in an interview on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, noted that her Mother established the Fatima Cottage Orphanage Home in 1971 upon her arrival from SassTown, Grand Kru County.

Old Lady Young noted that when they settled in the Dixville Township many years ago, at which time her mother acquired the land from George Wleh’s mother, and, said transaction was done in the name of Fatima Cottage Orphanage Home.

Madam Young and others have died and George Wleh is now claiming ownership of the land.

Madam Young is now wondering why George Wleh will come from the blue sky to claim ownership when he was not around when the deal was being reached.

Madam Young noted that since George Wleh started his alleged ownership of the land issue, they have been living in constant fear.

She is shocked by the action of George Wleh. “I am disturbed about this land issue, I am also not well, let the court do the needful because we are tired of living in fear”.

Lewis S.W. Pyne, Sr., one of the Residents and victim of the ongoing land dispute, stressed that the land issue is a serious national security concern that needs to be addressed in a timely manner.

He stressed that Residents of the Community continue to pursue the case to its logical conclusion and in a legal manner; they will also continue to remain peaceful and calm.

Narrating his personal experience about the disputed land issue with George Wleh, he alleged that his wife was also beaten by men of Mr. Wleh, because, he, Pyne was not their target, but was in the habit of defending the community’s dweller neighbors.

As a result of the fighting, one person from Wleh’s cycle was arrested by the Liberia National Police (LNP), because a surveillance camera proves that the act was committed and the defendant has been charged with assault and theft of property.

“In September of 2022, George Wleh and his people came to my home and said the land was theirs, but I read to them the Land Right Law of 2018, Article 22 which among other things states that to acquire a private land, one should have a claim of title, your grantor, deed, and copies of your receipts all of which I have and displayed to them and said to them that their parents sold the land to me, so it is no longer theirs”, he noted.

He indicated that on May 16, 2023, George Wleh went to do a survey but was prevented on the grounds that the document was fake.

Speaking of an investigative survey, he said there must be certain credentials that should be met.

According to Mr. Pyne, all that was required before an investigative survey was not done by George and his team and as such, the survey was not conducted.

According to him, George is claiming the Land from the Bridge that divides Barnesville and Dixville to the Public School on the main road.

Odell Martin is also a dweller of the community.  She said Mr. Wleh is hiding behind the fake document to sell more lands within the area and is causing serious problems for them.

She said that George most often does not go to court whenever he is invited but keeps doing his illegal land sales.

When contacted, George Wleh claimed that the land belongs to his family.

The land that once housed the Fatima Cottage Orphanage Home according to the young family is situated on 11.5 acres of land, but George claims that the land in question is 27.25 Acres.

George Wleh, son of the Mother who allegedly and originally sold the land to the late Mother Victoria Young, former owner of the Fatima Cottage Orphanage Home is also a former officer of the Liberia National Police once assigned at the Johnsonville police station who was disrobed for assault and other unwholesome acts by Justice Minister Cllr. Frank Musa Dean.