Ben TC Brooks
River Gee County Correspondent,
River Gee County – A group of women from the Tuobo Administrative district marched into the River Gee County Administrative Building early on Thursday morning, September 4, 2025, with placards, demanding action to settle the ongoing demarcation issues between Tuobo and Webbo Administrative districts in River Gee.
Tuobo and Webbo are sub-tribes of the Grebo ethnic group, sharing a boundary and history of intermarriage.
However, a longstanding land dispute exists between the two districts, further complicated by the encroachment of Burkinabe migrants on forest lands in the area.
The women’s spokesperson, Madam Annie J. Wollor, emphasized the failed attempts to resolve the land conflict due to delays from the county authorities.
She stressed the urgent need for intervention to prevent potential escalation into violence, citing recent conflicts in other areas that led to loss of life.
Madam Wollor emphasized that the community, including children, youth, women, and their husbands, came together peacefully to petition County Superintendent Mike T. Swengbe for immediate action.
She noted that peaceful coexistence between Tuobo and Webbo has been disrupted by false claims of land, mainly driven by the activities of Burkinabe migrants.
Mary D. Kossigba, another women leader, clarified that the issue was not with the presence of Burkinabe migrants in Webbo but with their encroachment onto lands belonging to the Tuobo community.
She highlighted the importance of respecting boundaries and avoiding conflict over land ownership.
In response to the petitions, the River Gee County Superintendent, Mike T. Swengbe, and his team assured the women of their commitment to address the matter amicably. They promised to take action by Monday, September 8, 2025, to resolve the demarcation issues and restore peace between the two districts.
Meanwhile, the Statutory District Superintendent, Robert B. Dickson, confirmed the receipt of funds allocated for the survey team to address the demarcation concerns.
He explained that the funds were divided, with $20,000LRD used for transporting the surveyors and the remaining $20,000LRD held by the Township Commissioner to cover the surveyors’ return costs after completing their work on Monday.
