One Dead, Many Injured, 11 Arrested as Sand Mining Dispute Turns Deadly in Moyamba

A long-standing land dispute over sand mining rights in Kori Chiefdom has turned deadly, leaving one traditional chief dead, several critically injured, and 11 people in police custody as of February 7, 2026.
Tensions in Taiama Town and surrounding areas, which had been simmering since December, erupted into violent confrontations late this week, forcing a security lockdown and bringing commercial activities to a halt.
The violence reportedly intensified in the early hours of Friday, February 6, when physical clashes broke out between sand miners and residents claiming customary ownership of the mining site.
Chief Alhaji Lamin Moseray, a resident of Bai Largoh Town identified as a landowner in the dispute, died following the escalation. While the exact cause of death is under investigation, local sources link it to the confrontations.