By Alpha Sesay
Various human rights activists in the country have raised serious concerns over the rampant unlawful and wrongful arrests of politicians, especially from the main opposition APC Party, and other young people across the country. According to sources from the Sierra Leone Police, it is alleged that these identified individuals are the real perpetrators of the violent protests that erupted in the Tombo Community, claiming the lives of some Police Officers, injuring civilians and burning down the community police post, all carried out by angered youths.
It all happened in the early hours of Wednesday, May 6, 2020, when hundreds of angry fishermen and youths from the fishing town of Tombo, Western Area Rural, went on a rampage, setting the Family Support Unit (FSU) of the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) and the community hospital on fire, while also vandalizing the main police station.
This violent protest stemmed from a policy and restrictions released by the country’s Ministry of Fishery and Marine Resources, allowing only 10 fishing boats to operate per day as a precautionary measure to curb the spread of COVID-19 in a community predominantly reliant on fishing for livelihood, involving over 500 people. This restriction angered the fishermen and youths, seeing it as a deprivation of their livelihoods, leading them to stage a peaceful demonstration to express their frustration and disappointment.
However, upon undertaking a thorough fact-finding investigation, it became clear that these false identifications and arrests were mainly politically motivated, perpetrated by supporters of the ruling SLPP Government against those deemed to oppose the political establishment. The situation has become alarming, with certain vigilante groups, reportedly comprising supporters of the ruling SLPP Government, clandestinely killing those seen as diehard supporters of the opposition APC Party. These extrajudicial killings have instilled fear and panic, especially in nearby communities within the Tombo Community, further exacerbated by unconfirmed reports of similar incidents.
Lumpa Waterloo, an emerging community situated in Waterloo, became a hotspot during the violent protests, with tensions high as crowds attempted to advance towards the city center, met by police officers firing tear gas canisters and, in some cases, live bullets. Young people protested violently, attributing their actions to unbearable economic hardship.
As the situation calmed, a curfew was imposed in Tombo Community, followed by a manhunt initiated by armed individuals targeting Hon. Abdul Turay, a political figure in the community and Member of Parliament for Constituency 105. He was accused by irate youths, believed to belong to the ruling SLPP, of supporting the violent protest and encouraging youths to riot. A reliable anonymous source stated that Hon. Abdul Turay was not present in the community during the Tombo protest, as he was fulfilling his parliamentary duties. He was arrested on May 9, 2020, and released on May 12, 2020.
Additionally, strange voices have been reportedly heard near Hon. Abdul Turay’s residence late at night, but investigations in the morning failed to identify the source. Speculation suggests these voices belong to individuals searching for Hon. Abdul Turay and two others accused of killing a police officer during the Tombo protest.
While some individuals identified, arrested, and charged for their involvement in the Tombo protests have been tried in various Magistrate courts and heavily sentenced, reports indicate that some people have gone missing for days.
Despite this protest, Hon. Abdul Turay has been under scrutiny by the ruling government, viewed as one of the most outspoken Members of Parliament from the main opposition party. He has been targeted on multiple occasions, including during the forceful removal of 10 Members of Parliament from the main opposition party, where he was subjected to police brutality. His house in his hometown in Kerena District, Rokulan village, was burnt down prior to the 2023 general elections.
Moreover, he was among those targeted at the APC Party headquarters in Brookfields, where gunmen from the military and police attacked the party office. He is currently in the United Kingdom, fearing reprisal if he returns to his country after receiving cogent information from family members and members of his political party that he shouldn’t return as the government is still pursuing and apprehending strong members of the main opposition party.
