FENDELL, Montserrado – Several residents of Fendell have been made homeless following a demolition of their homes on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The demolition was carried out by the Ministry of Public Works on the order of the University of Liberia’s administration.

The university and a group of estates owners have been in court for more than two years over ownership claims to more than 5,000 acres of land in the area.

UL Vice President for Administration, Professor Weade Kobbah Wureh, said the demolition exercise was in line with a court ruling that gave ownership rights to the University.

“The court ruled that the land belongs to the University, and as such, the University reserves the right to evict any illegal occupant,” she said. According to her, the residents have illegally occupied the land and have since refused to move despite several warnings.

Meanwhile, the residents affected by the demolition have expressed frustration over the short notice issued to them ahead of the exercise. Speaking to The Bush Chicken in separate interviews, the residents said they were given fifteen-day notices, which they said was not enough to allow them to relocate.

The families who sold the land to the current occupants could not be reached for comment, but a community chairman told The Bush Chicken he was surprised at the university’s abrupt decision to demolish their structures when they were already negotiating to be relocated by the University of Liberia.

Thompson Chea, Local Community Chairman of Fendell. Photo: Gbatemah Senah

Thompson Chea said that earlier, Wureh had offered to relocate the residents. “She told me that they had ruled out compensation for us, but would relocate us around the Bensonville area,” Chea said.

A demolition machine sweeps a home away. Photo: Gbatemah Senah

A business woman and resident of the area Mamie Flomo said she and her children are homeless and have nowhere to stay because of the demolition. Flomo said she paid US$500 to a family for a piece of land to build her house.

Business Woman, Mamie Flomo. Photo: Gbatemah Senah

Her disappointment at this time is that they were not given enough time to relocate. “The government does not feel for us. We were given only fifteen days to move. For me, I even got mine after fourteen days from the time the notice was issued,” she said.

Fendell resident, Korto Roberts. Photo: Gbatemah Senah

Korto Roberts, another affected resident, said she is frustrated and speechless by the demolition exercise.

She said that although her house was marked for demolition by the Ministry of Public Works since 2015, she had no knowledge of Wednesday’s exercise. “I did not receive any notice,” she said. She said although the demolition hurts her, she wants the university to carry out development that will benefit the country.

“I will feel more hurt if the University does not use the land now to carry out major developments that will help the country,” she noted.

Property owner, Aletha Tokpah. Photo: Gbatemah Senah

Meanwhile, Aletha Tokpah, the owner of a two-bedroom unit, said she paid US$1,200 to the Charles King family for the two lots of land she occupied before the demolition.

“Where can we move now when we have put all we had into this building?” she asked. “It’s so frustrating.”

Jonathan Flomo. Photo: Gbatemah Senah

Jonathan Flomo, who owned a residence and entertainment center in the area, said, the government should have given them enough time to relocate.

He said he moved to Fendell in 2008 under a lease agreement with people who claimed they owned the place.

Johnson Zubo. Photo: Gbatemah Senah

The owner of the Liverpool Entertainment Center in Fennell, Johnson Zubo said he is downhearted by the demolition.

“I feel bad because I have been made homeless,” he said. He called on the government of Liberia to intervene in their situation.

As a business man, Zubo said he also attends the University of Liberia and resides in Fendell. According to him, he provided employment for more than six young Liberians at his business center.

The Fendell demolition exercise has not just affected ordinary residents or businesses, but well as students of the University from far distances who moved to Fendell to live because they find it difficult to commute to school daily.

One of them, Dixon Faire, said the ongoing demolition will negatively impact his studies.

UL student at Fendell, Dixon Faire. Photo: Gbatemah Senah

According to Faire, he will have to relocate after paying a full year’s rent at Fendell. “It’s bad for me because I have paid my full year rent and now the house is demolished. I don’t have money to pay another rent now,” he explained.

The demolition of nearby food shops also means that the students have fewer choices of where to eat. In response, UL’s administration has promised to ensure that its cafeteria operates at minimal cost to students. The university also plans to address the issue of overcrowdedness at the cafeteria.