Violent Forest Attacks Near Kparblee Leave Four Burkinabe Farmers Dead
KPARBLEE TOWN, NIMBA COUNTY – A wave of violent nighttime assaults has shattered the peace in the forests surrounding Kparblee, leaving four Burkinabe migrants dead and several others wounded. The attacks have sent shockwaves through the community, forcing many farmers to abandon their homes and livelihoods.
A Peaceful Partnership Shattered by Violence
For years, Burkinabe migrants, who primarily arrived from neighboring Ivory Coast, have worked alongside local landowners to cultivate cocoa. This collaboration transformed parts of Nimba and Grand Gedeh Counties into some of Liberia’s most productive cocoa-growing regions. But that era of cooperation now appears to be under threat.
Unidentified assailants have targeted the farming communities in a series of brutal attacks, burning houses and personal belongings to the ground. Many of the victims were reportedly shot with single-barrel guns while they slept, a tactic that has sown terror throughout the area.
Scenes of Destruction and Displacement
Evidence of the violence is stark. A visit to the affected forest zones revealed charred remains of homes, destroyed farmlands, and once-bustling farms now lying abandoned. The attacks have triggered a significant displacement, with numerous Burkinabe families fleeing their forest settlements for the relative safety of nearby towns, including Zodru, Bah, and Doewoblee.
At the Faith Medical Center in Kparblee Town, medical staff are treating at least one Burkinabe man for serious gunshot wounds. James T. Flomo, the Physician Assistant in charge, confirmed the severity of the situation, noting that the violence is both ongoing and deeply concerning for local stability.
Local Farmers Voice Concern and Confusion
The violence has left local Liberian farmers, who have built relationships with the Burkinabe workers, bewildered and anxious. Jefferson Bedell, a farmer known locally as “Kaka,” had provided forest land for the migrants to cultivate. “They’ve been working hard on my land, but now they are being attacked by unknown people,” he stated, his voice heavy with sadness.
Echoing this sentiment, fellow farmer Jeff N. Gaylah expressed a widely held belief that the perpetrators are outsiders. “We’ve lived peacefully here with the Burkinabe,” Gaylah insisted, suggesting the attacks are not the work of the local Kparblee community.
Community Leaders Fear for the Future
The repercussions of the violence extend beyond immediate casualties. Richard Y. Banto, the Town Chief of Zodru, warned that continued attacks could unravel the social fabric and cripple the agricultural economy that sustains the district. The very industry that brought prosperity to the region now faces an uncertain future.
Despite the trauma, the Burkinabe community has responded with calls for peace. They have integrated into the area, building small churches and striving to live quietly alongside their Liberian neighbors.
“We are not here to cause problems,” affirmed Amed Sawadogo, the community’s youth chairman. “We just want to work, farm, and live peacefully with our Liberian brothers and sisters.”
As tension lingers in the forests around Kparblee, the urgent question remains: who is behind these attacks, and what is their motive? For now, displaced families and concerned locals alike are waiting for decisive action from authorities to restore safety and security to the region.
Source: Adapted from a FrontPage Africa report.