By: Emmanuel Mbowa
MAGBENI, Sierra Leone – For the elders of Magbeni village in Koya Chiefdom, they say the choice is clear: they only want sand mining legalised if they get a new road. This community, a major hub for extracting valuable freshwater sand, is caught between a profitable, albeit dangerous, industry and its own desperate need for infrastructure.
“We will abide by whatever the government says, but our condition is, they should first make our road,” said Hassan Kamara, the Regent Chief in Magbeni.
The Rokel River, which flows past this remote village, has become a hotspot for illegal sand mining over the past decade. The high demand for freshwater sand, preferred by construction companies for its quality, has made this activity a quick and easy source of income.
“Sand mining has changed our lives because you can easily go to the sea, get your sand, and sell it, while farming only brings an annual income, ” explained Pa Sorie Ibrahim Kamara VI, a town elder.
Profit vs. Danger
Villagers say the financial gains have been significant. A team of four miners can earn more than Le 5,000 a week. A single dumper truck of sand sells for up to Le 1,200. This profitability has made farming a secondary source of income for many. But this “fast money” comes at a high cost. The constant flow of heavy-duty trucks to and from the river has left the five-mile road connecting Magbeni to the main Masiaka Highway in a state of disrepair. The community says the muddy, crater-filled route is a hazard for them.
“We can’t ride along with these truck drivers. They keep digging new death traps for us,” an Okada rider said, recounting how a fellow biker was killed by a loaded dumper truck.
The work itself is also treacherous. Locals use buckets to dig deep into the river, and some areas require them to dive their entire bodies underwater. During heavy rains, the risks are compounded by strong currents and the threat of flooding, which affects both their mining operations and their farms.
Sorie Gbla, the Harbour Master, explained the dangers. “We don’t allow anyone who does not know how to swim to go to sea,” he said, adding that even with safety measures in place, the process is far from safe.
A Call for Intervention
Despite the risks, the community says it feels it has been left to its own devices. Pa Sorie and his council of elders claim no government agency has ever visited to discuss the mining.
“We haven’t had any government officials come here purposely to engage with us concerning the sand mining, but if they come, we will do whatever they say because we also have concerns,” Pa Sorie said.
The biggest of these concerns, they say, is the lack of development. The elders believe that formalising the industry would attract investors and bring much-needed improvements. They say they envision a scenario where a company operates in the community, potentially employing local youth and bringing in revenue that could be used for community development.
“We have had a few people who have come here promising to start mining the sand, but since they left, they haven’t shown up yet,” Pa Sorie explained. “We truly need the government’s intervention.”
Some locals yearn for a different future altogether. While many depend on the money from mining, young people like Abu Serry Kamara, the youth leader, and Saidu Fonnah, a 19-year-old who has been mining for six months, are pleading for skills training and job opportunities.
“Some of us are masons and carpenters, but due to the scarcity of jobs and the financial burdens, we had to shift to sand mining, which brings fast money,” said Abu Serry. “We will be glad to get back to our jobs, but for now, sand mining is our only source of income.”
EPA: “Not Aware” of Illegal Mining
When contacted about the situation, the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) of Sierra Leone stated they were unaware of any illegal sand mining in Magbeni. In a letter to Truth Media, the EPA noted that “until the matter has been investigated, the EPA will not be able to conduct an interview regarding this matter.”
The agency said it would notify the Northern regional team, “who will conduct a full investigation so that we can take appropriate action.”
While the EPA says it is clueless about the activity, the reality on the ground in Magbeni speaks volumes. The community’s leaders and its young people say they are desperate for a solution: one that brings in investors, creates sustainable development, and offers a brighter future through skilled jobs and training. They know the dangers of sand mining, but for now, they say it is the only option they have.
This investigation was supported by BBC Media Action and funded by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), co-funded by the European Union (EU).
