By Jamesetta D Williams

Hundreds of residents on 4th and 5th Streets in Sinkor have been rendered homeless following a court ruling that awarded ownership of the disputed land to a private landowner, triggering a forceful eviction exercise.

During the eviction, residents’ homes were demolished and personal belongings thrown into the streets, leaving many families stranded with little or nothing. Women, children, and the elderly were among those most affected as bulldozers and front-end loaders moved in to clear the area.

Eyewitnesses reported scenes of distress as families watched decades-old homes reduced to rubble. Many residents claim they legally purchased the properties several decades ago and were shocked by the sudden enforcement of the court ruling.

“We bought these places in the 1970s; some people bought theirs in the 1980s,” one distraught resident said. “My father bought this place in 1976. How can someone who bought the land in 2011 remove us like this?”

Victims of the land dispute say they were not given adequate time or alternatives before the demolition began. Several families are now sleeping in the open, while others have sought temporary refuge with relatives and neighbors.

The affected residents are appealing to the Government of Liberia to urgently intervene, citing the humanitarian impact of the eviction.

They are calling for emergency assistance, relocation support, and a review of the circumstances surrounding the land dispute.

Community members say the eviction highlights the growing land crisis in Liberia, where overlapping land deeds and prolonged legal battles continue to displace vulnerable citizens.

As of press time, authorities had not issued an official statement addressing the eviction or outlining plans to assist the displaced families.