By Edward Vamboi
It has been confirmed that the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Sierra Leone Police in Waterloo, in the Western Rural District of Sierra Leone have declared the Deputy District Chairlady of the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) party Mariatu Conteh of 55 Finely Street, New Town, Tombo and her husband Mohamed S. Conteh wanted for their alleged involvement in a protest that resulted to the death of two youths in Tombo.
Mariatu Conteh and her husband were accused of being among the ring leaders in the Tombo protest and riot over the stopping of fishermen from going into the sea to fish due to COVID.
This is one of the measures adopted by government to stop the chain of transmission, immediately after the three days lockdown.
The people were protesting over government decision not to allow more than twenty locally made boats to go to the deep sea to fish.
Head of the investigation, Inspector Alusine Mansaray told this medium that after the protest the government ordered the police to start a full scale investigation into the riot that resulted to the destruction of some properties and the death of two young people from gun shot.
It must be noted that because Tombo is the stronghold of the APC party, the SLPP government decided to launch a full scale investigation into what happened during the protest that ended up being violent.
Inspector Mansaray said the government demanded a full scale investigation, adding that all those found culpable must be brought to book.
He pointed out that the orders from government prompted the police to start arresting people including women suspected to have played a pivotal role in that crisis.
Inspector Mansaray said they decided to issue an arrest warrant for Mariatu Conteh and her husband for their alleged role in that demonstration. He said the CID has included their names in the list of wanted persons since she refused to respond to the call of the police to make statement regarding that issue.
Meanwhile, family members in Tombo have expressed serious concern about Mariatu’s whereabout.
“I have not seen my daughter for the last few months since her name was mentioned by the police. The family is very much worried about her safety and wellbeing,” Mariatu’s mother Hawa Turay said in tears.
