Chief of Kombo South has suggested government distances itself from settling land dispute and allows elders of the communities to settle such cases in the interests of communal peace.

Lamin Darboe, whose district is seriously affected with land dispute, made his pleas during a Constitutional Review Commission meeting.

Last year, two communities in the Kombo South clashed over a land disputes which resulted in the death of a man.

However, though land disputes have been rising for decades, it got worse in recent years.

“What we want now…land disputes let them leave it with the communities and allow elders to sit and discuss the matters in truth.

“And make sure anyone who owns that land is giving back his or her land,” Chief Darboe told the Commissioners.

He said less privileged victims were being stripped off their lands “because most of them don’t know how those court proceedings go about.”

He added: “land dispute is too much in Kombo here, they’re too much land dispute cases at the high courts and magistrate courts.”

Reporting by Adama Makasuba