Ishmail S Bangura
The family of one Alie Kanu have expressed their fears over his sudden disappearance following rumours that he is amongst civilians named in the so called failed coup of 26thNovember,2023 which had resulted to warrantless raids and search in residences of relatives and supporters of former President Ernest Koroma.
Alie Kanu, is a house hold in sports, philanthropy and a respected All People’s Congress Party (APC) opposition party activist and a close aide to slain social influencer Evangelist Samson who was gunned by police on allegations that he is one of many masterminds who instigated the August 10thpeaceful protest that turned violence and resulted in many deaths.
Alie Kanu is also rumoured to be a lead youth campaigner of the APC Presidential candidate Dr. Samura Kamara.
A friend of Alie Kanu who begs for anonymity told this medium that apparent fall out he (Alie) had with the Resident Minister Abu Abu Koroma over his negative protrayal of the ruling party (SLPP) as an evil party is key as to why he was associated with the violence disturbance as a given opportunity to apparently get him off the scene.
The early curfew hours on Sunday 3rd December,2023,Makeni city was a scene sponteneous raids by joint military and police operatives in homes of relatives and close associates of former President Koroma
Alie’s No.15 Renka street residence was reportedly said to have been severally raided with his family subjected in a manner semblance to a house arrest.
The house of Mr. Philip Koroma, the junior brother of former president Dr Ernest Koroma, has been attacked by armed Police and army without a search warrant .
Also , the home of Mr.Abdul Mansaray ( AK Mansaray) was also searched by well -armed OSD and military personnel at his residence at Dr Ernest Bai Koroma road (TEKO).
The home of Mr. Mohamed Ali Commoner KARGBO’s was also invaded by unknown military personnel and OSD officers at the same time, just after 9pm.
The police statement released by it media unit said it had arrested several people, including high-ranking soldiers in Sierra Leone whilst many others were on the run.
According to the statement, “the security sector has been following intelligence regarding the activities of certain individuals, including senior military officers, working to undermine the peace and tranquillity of the state.
“In that regard, several arrests have been made and the some suspects are assisting the police with the investigations.”
The police release said the suspects attacked the Welberforce armory in early hours of Sunday 26th November,2023 in a bid to oust President Bio;s government through forceful means and in the process had to set free over 2,000 prisoners serving lifeterm and long term sentences.
Alie, family sources told this medium that he was not even in Makeni city when the failed coup took place, but his Renka street residence in Makeni was a subject of constant raids by joint police and military personnel.
When contacted on rationale of the raids on Alie’s home during curfew hours,the head of police media AC Brima Kamara could not confirmed whether the action of his men are linked to the aborted coup since it had been carried out by a special team from Freetown, but an insider police source intimated this medium that they were acting on orders from Freetown to arrest certain individuals believed to have connections with the former President in which Alie’s name was measured.
During the reported security raids on Alie’s Makeni residence it is alleged that Alie’s cousin Sorie Turay was inhumanely treated to the extent that he had problems with his sight.
This medium visited the Alie’s N0.15 Renka street residenceand discovered it had been abandoned by its occupants, buthad a single armed police deployed at the outside of it.
Neighbours that spoke this press said the Alie’s housemateshad fled to an unknown destination due to endless raids and intimidation.
The West African nation held general elections on June 24. President Julius Maada Bio was re-elected for a second term, according to official results, which the opposition disputes.
International observers noted “statistical inconsistencies” and condemned a “lack of transparency” in the ballot count after the election.