In a tragic turn of events in Freetown, Sierra Leone on a land dispute at Jui New Road Allen Town Freetown has taken a violent turn leaving the wife of Mustapha Turay, Fatmata Turay 27, injured, raped and shot by unknown assailants. Fatmata Turay, whose husband, Mustapha Turay, fled Sierra Leone to seek asylum, has been at the centre of a contentious claim over a parcel of land at Jui Road Allen Town. The land, reportedly owned by Mustapha Turay, became the focal point of a confrontation in August of this year Fatmata, visiting the property, was accosted by individuals who questioned her presence. She calmly asserted that the land belonged to her husband, only to be met with a stark denial and a warning to vacate the land, with instructions to relay the message to her husband. Undeterred, Fatmata revisited the land on August 15, 2025. This time, she encountered no one. However, the situation dramatically escalated later that evening. The same individuals who had confronted her earlier arrived at her residence at No. 1 Ya Umu Street Rokel in Freetown in the Western Area of the Republic of Sierra Leone demanding to see her husband. When Fatmata informed them of his absence they accused her of hiding him. This accusation reportedly incensed the group, leading to Fatmata being harassed, raped and subsequently shot. The assailants then issued a chilling threat: “If they ever see any of us on the land, that will be the end of their lives.” Having been shot at, Fatmata was rescued and rushed to the hospital by some of her neighbours. Joseph and Mary, eyewitnesses to the incident, confirmed that
they saw a group of men entering Fatmata’s residence and heard loud noises and cries. followed by the sound of something similar to a gunshot That was when they realised something heinous had happened and rushed to the scene where they found Fatmata lying lifeless on the ground and saw the same men who had entered her residence hurriedly leaving the house.
She is responding to treatment and awaits further medical examination.
The shooting has reverberated through the community, with many residents expressing their shock and anger. Community leaders and activists have condemned the violence, urging all parties to seek peaceful
resolution methods rather than resorting to confrontations that can lead to further harm. Local leaders held urgent meetings to discuss the situation, emphasising the need for dialogue and mediation in resolving such disputes.
In the wake of the shooting, there have been calls for increased police presence in the area to prevent further violence and protect vulnerable community members. Some residents have begun to mobilise, advocating for legal reforms to address the systemic issues that allow land disputes to escalate to violence,
Moreover, the government has been urged to take action against those responsible for the shooting. There are calls for a thorough investigation to ensure justice for Mustapha Turay’s family and to prevent similar incidents in the future. Human rights organisations are also monitoring the situation closely, highlighting the necessity to address the underlying causes of land conflicts to ensure safety for all residents.
