By Momoh Kamara
On Christmas Day, 25th December 2020, what was meant to be a glamorous night of fashion, music, and celebration ended in horror at Changes Nightclub in Grassfield. The high-profile event attracted celebrities, musicians, comedians, and footballers — but by the end of the night, it became the scene of a brutal mob assault that led to the mysterious disappearance of a young man named Abdul Kareem Khanu.
Eyewitnesses say Abdul Kareem Khanu and his partner, identified only as John, had attended the event like many others. They were seen dancing, drinking, and mingling among the guests. But sometime after midnight, the couple left the main floor and moved to their car parked outside the venue. What followed sparked a violent mob response.
Sources say the two began being intimate inside the vehicle. The movement of the car drew attention from some bystanders who gathered outside. Within minutes, tensions escalated as a crowd formed around the vehicle, shouting and banging on the windows.
“The crowd got out of control,” recalled a local vendor who witnessed the scene. “They broke the glass and pulled them out naked. People were hitting them, throwing bottles. It was terrifying.”
The couple was allegedly dragged onto the stage, stripped of their clothes, and subjected to physical assault in front of onlookers. Reports say they were beaten with sticks, belts, and fists. Some even demanded the pair perform sex acts in public as punishment.
John was reportedly bleeding heavily and eventually fell unconscious before police arrived. Abdul, although severely injured, was still responsive at the time. According to multiple accounts, the police transported John to the hospital and took Abdul into custody.
The last confirmed sighting of Abdul Kareem Khanu was at the Barracks Shell Old Road Police Station, where he was detained following the incident. A week later, on the morning of January 3rd, 2021, Abdul reportedly escaped from his cell under unclear circumstances. Sources say he fled the premises before officers could take him to court or provide medical treatment.
Shortly after his escape, the Sierra Leone Police declared him a wanted man, issuing internal alerts to regional commands. The announcement came without any detailed explanation of the charges against him or why he had been held without court appearance for a week.
No comprehensive formal statement has been released by the police explaining how Abdul managed to escape from the Barracks Shell Old Road facility, nor why his case remains shrouded in secrecy. Human rights observers have raised alarm about the nature of his disappearance, pointing to the context of the mob violence and the public threats made against both men during the attack.
“There were people calling for them to be burned alive,” said one eyewitness, speaking anonymously out of fear. “They said they didn’t deserve to live. That night, people were furious.”
Community sources confirm that in the days following the incident, some members of the mob had reportedly threatened to destroy the home of Abdul’s family. Others allegedly called for continued attacks on anyone suspected of being gay in the area, raising serious concerns about the safety of those associated with the victims.
His disappearance — following a public assault, detention, mob threats, and now a police manhunt — has yet to spark any official investigation or public inquiry into the circumstances that led to the violence in the first place.
The nightclub where the incident occurred has never issued a statement. Police officials, despite declaring Abdul wanted, have declined to clarify the events of that night or provide updates on his current status.
Rights groups say the case reflects a broader pattern of violence and impunity against LGBTQ+ individuals in Sierra Leone. For many, the story of Abdul Kareem Khanu is not just a personal tragedy — it’s a symbol of the danger, silence, and erasure that continues to plague marginalized communities.
As long as there are no answers and no justice, the disappearance of Abdul remains an open wound — and a haunting reminder of what happens when hate is left unchecked.