By Christian Appleton
Fishtown, River Gee County – A 39-year-old man, Morris Nimely, sustained severe injuries on Saturday, August 16, after a tree-cutting operation went tragically wrong in a forested area near Fishtown, Glaro Administrative District. The incident has once again highlighted the dangers of the informal timber sector.
According to eyewitnesses and local authorities, Nimely was felling a Dawoma tree when it struck a nearby tree, dislodging a heavy branch that fell directly on him. The impact resulted in a broken left leg and multiple deep wounds.
Barway Tuekaisuah, a professional power saw operator and Nimely’s employer, confirmed the details of the incident. “He pleaded with me to allow him to fell the tree. I was hesitant, but I eventually agreed,” Tuekaisuah explained. “Unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned.”
Nimely was immediately rushed to the Fishtown Clinic by fellow workers, where medical staff administered emergency treatment. Health personnel report that his condition is stable, though he is expected to require extended care and rehabilitation.
The incident has reignited serious concerns over safety in the informal timber sector, which has become a primary source of livelihood for many residents in River Gee County. With limited formal employment opportunities in rural areas, an increasing number of individuals have turned to power saw operation as a means of survival.
However, this shift has come at a high cost. Over the past two years, more than 18 people have either died or suffered serious injuries in similar logging-related accidents, according to local sources.
Community members and civil society actors are now urging the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) and other relevant government agencies to implement stricter safety regulations and provide essential training to timber workers. “We can’t continue to lose lives or see people maimed because of preventable accidents,” said one resident. “It’s time for proper oversight and education.”
As the demand for timber and the need for livelihood support continue to rise, the call for a safer, more regulated working environment in the forestry sector is growing louder across the county.