Former Bong County Representative Albert Hills Jr. has abandoned a 300-acre rubber farm in Quikon after an investigation exposed that he illegally purchased the land.
Hills, who represented District #1 from 2018 to 2024, has not returned to the property for more than three years, according to community leaders. This reporter observed the farm overgrown with bush, with no signs of cultivation or upkeep.
“There is no new cutlass mark on that farm as we speak,” said David Kangar, chairman of Quikon’s customary land leadership. “The guy he put over the farm has left, and nobody comes there anymore.”
Repeated attempts to reach Hills for comment were unsuccessful.
A 2023 investigation found that Hills paid an elder an undisclosed fee for the land, which lies within the Quikon Clan of Kokoyah District. The transaction violated the Land Rights Act, which prohibits the sale of customary land until 2068.
The disputed property is part of approximately 25,000 hectares that Quikon is on the verge of securing under a customary land deed. The Liberia Land Authority has already surveyed the area, confirming the clan’s landmass.
Community leaders say the abandonment underscores the importance of enforcing land laws designed to protect customary ownership. Asked what would happen if Hills attempted to reclaim the land, Kangar was unequivocal: “The community is going to take the land.”
The case highlights broader tensions over land rights in Liberia, where disputes between customary communities and political elites have long fueled mistrust. Analysts note that while the Land Rights Act was intended to safeguard rural communities from exploitation, enforcement remains uneven.
For Quikon residents, the abandoned farm is both a cautionary tale and a symbol of resilience. As the clan awaits formal recognition of its land rights, leaders insist they will defend their territory against illegal encroachment.
The controversy surrounding Hills’ farm adds to ongoing national debates over land governance, transparency, and accountability—issues central to Liberia’s democratic consolidation and rural development.
