By Abdulrahman Kamara
Police sources say that they are looking for one Mabinty Kargbo in connection with the August 10 violent riot that resulted in the deaths of 6 police officers and 35 civilians. Mabinty was among a number of suspects arrested by the Kissy Police and kept in their custody, but were set free by protesters, who stormed the station, broke open the cells and set all the suspects free.
Investigation mounted by this medium revealed that Mabinty was residing at Portee, Eastern Freetown, and a stronghold of the main opposition party (APC), and her husband (Shiek Umar Kargbo) is a known supporter and Chairman of the party in that Constituency.
According to sources living in the area, she was at the next neighboring compound during the August 10 riot, but her husband (Shiek) and kid (Fatmata Kargbo) had left for Waterloo in the early hours of that day. One source disclosed that she was in her house when some ruling party youths in the company of some armed security officers stormed the house of Mabinty looking for her husband.
Our source disclosed that whilst hiding in her house, both her and Mabinty heard several gun shots coming from Mabinty’s house, and later saw the youths and armed officers depart from the house.
It was further disclosed that upon reaching at her house, Aminata discovered that her old father (Abdulai Kargbo, sisters and brother (Zainab, Adama Kargbo, Ibrahim Kargbo) had been shots and in a pool of blood. She is reported to have come out of the house crying. Our source further disclosed that angered by this incident, Mabinty had decided to join the protesters in a bid to bring to the attention the atrocity committed by the security officers and thugs to journalists.
Eye witnesses explained that Mabinty and others were pursued by the police around their area, and was caught when she fell down, and taken to the Kissy police station. One of the suspect, who also managed to escape from the police cell, who spoke to this medium on condition of anonymity, explained that whilst they were in the police cell, they overheard some officers threatening to rape them after their special operation is over.
She also disclosed that she and others were able to escape when some youths stormed the police station and broke open their cell, letting all of them out. She explained that everyone ran for their lives, and little time was available to check for anyone, but maintained that Mabinty was among those who escaped, but she does not know her whereabouts. She too explained that she is going to leave the city for fear of being discovered by the youths and the police.
This medium engaged residents in the area, who told us that since the shooting at Mabinty’s house, they have not been able to see Mabinty’s husband, kid or herself. They are also fearful of going to her house, as it is now a place of constant surveillance by some ruling party youths, who seemed determined to alert the police of any movement in the house. They also furthered that since the arrest of Mabinty, her whereabouts have not been known, but were only informed that Mabinty had escaped from police custody.
As we go to press the whereabouts of Mabinty Kargbo are still unknown.
