Anthony Williams Faces Death Threats From Ruling Party Operatives

By: Ahmed Yusuf Turay

According to sources in eastern Freetown, one  Anthony Williams, a registered nurse working at the Jui Hospital, has gone into hiding after facing threats to his life from ruling party operatives and security forces.

According to reliable sources, Anthony Williams was accused of being a sympathizer of the main opposition party that stands accused of being behind the 26th November 2023 attempted coup against the Julius Maada Bio government. It was disclosed that during the said attempted coup, he was on duty at the Jui Hospital and attended many victims with gunshot wounds without discrimination. This was his undoing, as ruling party youths demanded that he abandon to die, those perceived as opposition party supporters and sympathizers.

Close friends of Anthony Williams, who spoke to this medium on basis of anonymity, explained that he had rejected that demand on basis that his commitment to his profession prevents him from taking sides, but rather to provide service to all mankind, irrespective of their race, political affiliation, religion or creed, and that he will not standby and watch a fellow human die when he can save him.

They furthered that since that day, Anthony Williams’ life has been under threat, with ruling party youths, in the company of armed security forces, raided his house. This situation, they said, prompted him to seek refuge with some of his friends in the hope that the tension will die down, but unfortunately, things escalated, as there were several instances of gun battles among alleged remnants of the coupist and security forces. in close proximity to their area. These events saw the killing of several known close protection guards of the former President, as well as the accusation of the Ex-President as being behind the said coup attempt. Thus, known supporters of the main opposition party were targeted in many communities in Freetown and in its northern stronghold. Concerned about his safety and that of his family, Anthony Williams confided in his office and a training program was organized for him to go to Vienna in the hope that the tension and threats would have subsided. However, on his return, the situation continued with an escalation.

Things took a different turn when armed security forces decided to embark on a house to house search for alleged collaborators accused of harboring the coupist. Anthony Williams’ house was among the first set of houses raided, and when he was not found, threats were issued against anyone hiding him. Against this backdrop, his friends maintained that he escaped into a nearby bush, and has since not been seen.

Family sources say that since Anthony Williams left the house one fateful night in fear of his safety after being threatened by ruling party youths. His whereabouts are unknown. They furthered that their house had been regularly raided and even valuable properties carted away. They stressed that on some days they too will abandon the house and return some few days later.

As we go to press the whereabouts of Anthony Williams are still unknown, whereas the family continues to suffer harassment from ruling party operatives and security forces.