By Abdulrahman Kamara
According to reports from Makeni, Rashid Kamara, a young man believed to be Gay has been declared wanted by the Sierra Leone Police in Makeni, and is currently being sought after by the Police as well as by residents in the township for what they describe as enticing other young men to join the unholy practice of homosexuality, a practice that is criminal according to The Sierra Leonean law and out-rightly opposed by both religious faiths in the country as satanic and demonic.
During our investigations into the matter, it was revealed that Rashid Kamara met with some foreigners doing humanitarian work, providing assistance to some disabled people in a home in Makeni. It was disclosed that Rashid Kamara had been a regular visitor to that home, as he had friends living there. During one of such visits, he was opportuned to involve in a discussion between the humanitarian people and residents at the home.
As the inmates were unable to understand English, which the visitors employed to communicate to them, Rashid Kamara, being fluent in English, volunteered to serve as interpreter and facilitated the work of the group, which had discussions and made donations to the inmates. After the first encounter they then exchanged numbers and an understanding reached between him and the humanitarian people to assist then in interpretation of what the people say and what they say in return to the questions posed by the beneficiaries that they work with.
As our investigations continued, another source explained that Rashid Kamara had been visiting the group of social workers very often and has been seen in their company most of the time. They have been seen regularly dropping him off at his residence in the company of one of his friends, Alhaji. Little was known about his involvement in gay activities, and he was merely suspected of helping the group in their work. However news broke out that Rashid was having homosexual relationship with one of the humanitarian guys and that he had involved Alhaji in the same practice with another of the team.
Unfortunately, Rashid is accused of trying to convince another friend Mohamed to join them, and after everything Was explained to him, he later broke the news, which got youths in the community angry and determined to get rid of this ‘son of Satan’, as he was termed. As fears of this practice becoming common in the community, elders and the youths hatched a plan to trap, Alhaji, who was regularly seen with Rashid.
It was later disclosed that on one fateful day, when Alhaji, Rashid’s closest friend, was dropped off at his residence, youths in the vicinity pounced on him, mercilessly beating him to death, and was only rescued by the police his survival was in doubt as blood all over his body. During the investigation of the police, the whole story about the relationship between Rashid and the humanitarian guys was revealed and upon this information, the police stormed the residence of the Rashid.
Fortunately for Him, he was not at home and was later called by a close family member that he is being sought after by the police for the crime of homosexuality. It was also revealed to this writer that since then, Rashid Kamara had not returned to his house, and rumour has it that where he had gone to seek refuge in the nearby village, his cover has been blown and the people had asked him to leave, as they do not want their village to be burnt down by the angry youths, who were looking everywhere for him. Since leaving that village, his whereabouts has not been known.
Meanwhile the police is said to have declared him wanted and have called on residents to report any information about his whereabouts.
Homosexuality in Sierra Leone is a State offence and anyone caught involved in such practice will face long jail term, if he is lucky to survive the wrath of the people. Both religions in the country describe this act as satanic and even the discussion of the topic in public is taboo.
As we go to press the whereabout of Rashid Kamara since he fled his village is still unknown and he is still sought after by the police and angry residents.
