By Samuel Kargbo
Reports reaching this medium has revealed that the Sierra Leone Police has mounted a man-hunt for some 5 youths believed to be behind the riot that took place in the Western Rural fishing village of Tombo, a known stronghold of the opposition party, on Wednesday 6th May 2020, in which some 7 people were shot dead by a combined team of military and police officers.
According to the police, these youths are said to be members of the main opposition’s (APC) Zone 5 area, and are believed to have masterminded the riot that took place in Tombo. They are all youths living on fishing in the village. Our investigations revealed that the riot was as a result of directives given by the government that out of a total of over 100 fishing boats in the village, only 15 boats should go out to fish, as part of the COVID-19 containment measures.
This action, it was revealed, infuriated the fishermen, and after efforts in engaging the district authorities to increase the number of boats proved futile, they then embarked on a peaceful protest in the village. During the said protest, the aggrieved fishermen matched up to the residence of the district officials and the Police station, in a bid to register their discontent.
Sources say that the protest turned violent when some irate youths joined in the procession, and these then threw stones at the police station, leading to a request by the Local Unit Commander in the area for support from Waterloo, its divisional headquarter. It was revealed that a team of military and police officers descended on the village, joined by youths believed to be supporters of the ruling party, and an all-out running battle between the youths and the security forces ensued, in which road blocks were set up by the angry youths of the village.
The security forces then resorted to the use of a barrage of tear gas canisters and live bullets, killing some 7 people and making some arrests. Backed by ruling party youths, the armed security officers then stormed the houses of residents in search of alleged perpetrators of the violence, using a list of names of alleged perpetrators provided by the Sherbro Tribal Chief for Western Area Rural, Michael K. Benka, a known supporter of the ruling party. Among the names were Alpha Kamara, Mohamed I. Sesay and others. It was also disclosed by eye witnesses that some youths were arrested and taken away, whilst others are said to be on the run.
Public Relations Officer of the police, Superintendent Brima Kamara, told this medium that the incident happened in the morning, and that “some guys came from the wharf and attacked the station. They were told only fifteen boats should head out to fish. This made some of them aggrieved and decided to go on a rampage, We cannot confirm the death toll, nor the number of those arrested, at the moment. The investigation is ongoing to verify those claims of death.” He furthered that some of the alleged perpetrators are now in police custody, but that a few others have escaped and are being sought after by the police, with the help of some youths and the tribal authority.
Our source furthered that as the search for the escaped youths continued, a curfew was declared in the village to discourage gathering, with members of the Sierra Leone Police, (SLP) Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) and the Operational Support Division (OSD), the armed wing of the SLP, patrolling the streets of the village. All fishing boats were grounded. It was also disclosed that the security forces targeted youths who were active members of the opposition, including one Mohamed I Seasy, an opposition party agent.
Some villagers spoken to, say that the arrival of the security forces aggravated the whole situation, as they descended menacingly, and things took a different turn when they began to storm residence, beating up opposition party youths and young men in front of their families, shooting down doors of houses, and injuring inmates.
One youth, displaying a bullet wound on his back, alleged that an OSD (armed wing of the police) in the company of some soldiers shot them in their house, and this was replicated across the village, resulting in more violence, as youths began to defend their families. The security forces are said to have been firing indiscriminately at people, and many are said to have been wounded by gunshots.
It was also revealed that those youths who escaped were attacked at their homes by the police, and managed to escape through the help of other youths, who came to their rescue. This, it was further revealed, was due to the list given to them by the tribal headman of the village, who merely wrote down the names of active party youths of the opposition party in the village, among whom was Mohamed i. Sesay, a young man and an agent of the APC, residing at Wharf Road.
Speaking to a family member of Mohamed I Sesay, they informed this medium that they were attacked by armed police and Mohamed managed to escape through an open window at the back of the house, pursued by the armed men. They explained that they saw the men enter a nearby bush, where Mohamed had entered and heard gunshots, but do not know whether Mohamed had been killed, and up to the time of going to press his whereabouts and that of the other youths are unknown, and they are feared dead.
Eye witnesses have also corroborated the story of this family and many others. They further explained that the Sherbro Tribal Chief, Michael K. Benka, is a known ruling party member, and that he gave a list of youths known to be opposition party activists in the village, whom he described as the ring leaders of the riot, to the police. It was also disclosed that this was the list that the security forces relied on to go about arresting people during the curfew and targeted homes of known opposition activists. Many youths were arrested violently, with some suffering gunshot wounds and taken to the station in Waterloo and Freetown, often without medical attention.
After video footage of wounded victims were shown on social media, youths, including female business people with gunshot wounds, were then taken to the hospitals.
Police sources say that they have mounted a man-hunt for Mohamed I Sesay and others and have declared them wanted and a bounty put on their heads for any information that would lead to their arrest.
As we go to press, family members of Mohamed have confirmed to us that they are constantly under police harassment and threat, and the whereabouts of Mohamed I Sesay is still unknown, and feared dead.
