By Foday Moriba Conteh
News intimated this medium has revealed that the Sierra Leone Police has mounted a man-hunt for active members of the opposition, including one Amnata Sesay a staunch member of the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) who are 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.
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.
Sources further revealed 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.
Speaking to a family member of Amnata Sesay, they informed this medium that they were attacked by armed police and Mohamed managed to escape at the back of the house, adding that on 7th May 2020 a day after the riot Amnata Sesay was able escape from the country to Guinea.
Eyewitnesses 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 of which Amnata Sesay happens to be among the list.
Police sources say that they have mounted a man-hunt for Amnata 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 Amnata have confirmed to us that they are constantly under police harassment and threat, and since she escape to Guinea they have not heard from her.
