By Abdulrahman Kamara
According to police sources, one Lamin Koroma has been declared wanted in respect of the August 10 riot that claimed the lives of 6 police officers and 35 civilians. The police say that some of these wanted persons are known operatives of the main opposition party, believed to be behind the riot. Most of the suspects are said to live in the eastern part of the city of Freetown, as that part was where the riot was heavily concentrated. Lamin Koroma is believed to reside at 2 Wright Lane, off Fourah Bay Road, eastern Freetown.
However, investigations mounted by this medium say that the targeting of main opposition party members and supporters was as a result of perception by the government that they were fueling protesters to protest against the high cost of living. Our investigation also revealed that were extra-judicial killings of known supporters and members of the main opposition party by the security forces, who stormed their homes and shot them at point blank range.
According to our source, Lamin Koroma is the son of one Mr Lamin Koroma, Chairman of the APC in Constituency 121, and on the day of the riot, some security officers stormed the home of Lamin Koroma and met his father in the house with his wife, Madam Taba Koroma, daughter, Hawa Koroma, and one of his sons, Abu Kamara. Our source further disclosed that as the police tried to drag Lamin’s father out of the house, the above mentioned family members then tried to stop them, and in the process, they beat and shot his father, shot dead his sister and one of his brother.
Lamin is said to have been out of the house, and was informed about the attack on his family. Returning home, he discovered the remains of his family in the house in a pool of blood. Angered by this, he decided to go out and tell people about what the security forces have done to his family, and in the process, he was chased by the police, but unfortunately, he fell down and was captured and beaten mercilessly by the police and taken to a container, where he was locked up with other youths caught by the police.
Our sources further disclosed that some angry youths got wind of the arrest and detention of these youths in the container, and they then stormed the area in their numbers, broke open the container and set free the youths. Lamin is said to have made good his escape and rescued by one of his friend. But as the government had declared a curfew, and the ensuing raiding of homes of known main opposition party homes and hangouts, Lamin is said to have escaped with his friend and gone into hiding, and has since not returned.
To make matters worse, the President, on his return from his international engagement in the UK, told the BBC and the nation that the opposition were behind the attacks, and described them as terrorists, a statement that was widely condemned by both local and international partners.
This statement gave more impetus to the security forces to target main opposition party members, including the cold blooded shooting down at opposition party regional strong hold which northern Sierra Leone (Makeni).
The killings that created tension in the country, as main opposition members saw that as direct attempt to target them by the government with the use of the security forces.
However, as we go to press, the whereabouts of Lamin Koroma are yet unknown.
