By Mohamed Massaquoi in Kenema

Paramount chief of Kandu Leppiama chiefdom in the Kenema district has appealed to the Inspector General of Police Brima Acha Kamara and other stakeholders for the establishment of a police station in her chiefdom.

PC Theresa Vibbie said frantic efforts have been made to ensure that her chiefdom was protected from criminal activities but since it is a diamondiferous area, it would be always difficult to combat crimes, especially when they lack adequate law enforcement agencies.

A lot of people have settled in towns and villages in the chiefdom, a development, she observed, has increased the rate of lawlessness among residents.

Madam Vibbie said if positive steps were not taken to address the said issue, particularly through the construction of a police station in the chiefdom, things would go out of control in the mining fields.

“I have made several appeals to authorities who have visited the chiefdom for the construction of the police station but it has not been successful. Kandu and Leppiama are amalgamated chiefdoms with a very large number of people. You will notice that wherever mining activities are taking place, there will be a lot of disorderliness and this is the reason why we are appealing for police presence,” she said.

She said crimes in her chiefdom could only be reported to the Blama Police station, which is nine miles from Kandu Leppiama, and sometimes it is very difficult for the police to respond to their calls.

“If we have a station in this chiefdom it will help us greatly in addressing our security problems,” she said adding that the security of her people was paramount.