Tragic deaths in Grand Gedeh | News

A tragic incident occurred in Grand Gedeh district in which four Burkina Faso died while working on their farm.

The men had set fire to a large tree to illuminate their fields, but the tree unexpectedly fell on them, resulting in the instant death of three people, while a fourth person was pronounced dead on arrival at a nearby clinic.

The incident occurred in Dougee Forest near Toe Town, about 75 kilometers from Tappita City. Dougee Forest is known to be frequently visited by Burkinabe as it is close to Liberia's border with Ivory Coast.

The Grand Gedeh Division of the Liberian National Police confirmed the incident and identified the dead as Burkinabe nationals of the Moussi tribe. Police clarified that the incident was not a crime and that the falling tree was the cause.

The victims were named as Sawadogo Mohammadou Desire (35), Yameogo Olivier (25), Trono Ouibila (25) and Oliver Ouadrago (27).

“All of them are said to be Burkinabe from the Moussi tribe and the incident occurred on August 22, 2024 at about 3:00 am in the Dougee Town forest,” police told the Daily Observer.

The men's deaths underscore the dangers associated with the risky farming practices they engage in and the importance of safety precautions.

It has been widely reported that the Burkinabe people use rapid farming methods, including slash-and-burn farming, to gain land for the cultivation of various crops such as cocoa, eddoes and plantains. Unfortunately, one of the unintended consequences of this farming method has been the tragic accident that resulted in human loss of life.

“The Burkinabes stayed in the bush with their families as long as they could until they started harvesting some crops, including eddoes, plantains and other vegetables,” a source told the Daily Observer. “When the cocoa was at least four feet tall, they started setting fire to the big trees to destroy them and give light to the crops.”

This method of cultivation is considered very fast, as some edible plants take less than a year to harvest.

The influx of Burkinabe citizens into Liberia has raised concerns about illegal settlements and land tenure issues.

The government called on local politicians to report such illegal activities and stressed that it was illegal for non-Liberians to own land in the country.

At a Ministry of Interior orientation workshop for local leaders held recently in Ganta, Nimba County, Vice President Jeremiah Koung urged chiefs to report all illegal settlements of foreign nationals, particularly Burkinabes, to officials of the national security apparatus.

He stressed that it is illegal for non-Liberians to own land in Liberia, so anyone who grants land to a foreigner is breaking the law.

It is unclear whether the chiefs will heed this advice and act accordingly, as thousands of Burkinabe have illegally occupied forest areas in the countries bordering Côte d'Ivoire and are cultivating cocoa there in full view of the population.

Compliance with laws and regulations regarding land ownership and settlement by foreigners is crucial to maintain order and prevent similar incidents in the future.