By Hassan Bruz
Northern Bureau Chief
Sierra Leone News Agency [SLENA]
Lunsar – the Chiefdom Headquarter Town of Marampa in the North West District of Port Loko is one of the most frequently referenced Areas for the perceived misrule of the Sierra Leone Peoples Party [SLPP] led Government. The reference is often made by Members of the main Opposition – All Peoples Congress [APC] Party as a Place where Natives have been unjustifiably murdered in cold blood. Members of the APC and several other disgruntled Persons have regularly singled out Lunsar, Tonko – Limba, Waterloo and Makeni as Places where President Julius Maada Bio’s Government has demonstrated indiscriminate killing and other forms of Human Right Violations.
As is the case in several other parts of the Northern Province, many People who consider their positions unsafe or drafted out as threat or declared wanted by the State and required to assist in the investigations of some kind, have had cause to flee the Country for a safe haven elsewhere.
Abu Bakarr Bangura who is popularly known as ‘Chopper’ is a point in case. He was compelled to abandon his Homeland barely weeks after the much talked about Lunsar Riot. His decision to contrive an escape was developed after his name – ‘Chopper’ was found amongst those listed by the Sierra Leone Police as Wanted Persons. This List of Wanted Persons was Published on one of the Local Tabloids in the Capital City of Freetown.
Abu Bakarr Bangura aka ‘Chopper’ has been a Childhood friend, Schoolmate and Associate to – Ibrahim Sulaiman Kabia otherwise called ‘Bulgur’ – the man professed to be the ringleader of the aforementioned Riot. They both attended the Roman Catholic Primary and the Murialdo Secondary Schools. Chopper graduated as General Metal Specialist at the Saint Joseph Vocational Institute in Lunsar. He then proceeded to work at Dawnus International Limited and further served as a Security Guard at the Marampa Mines Limited.
Before the 29th. April 2020 Incident, Chopper was a Pharmacy Sales Assistance while pursuing a Nursing Course at the St. Joseph’s Junior Clinic/ Lunsar. He became the eventual breadwinner of the Family after the death of his Parents at Number 19 Bai Rampa /Lunsar Town.
Abu Bakarr Bangura is said to have been implicated in the Incident by his mere affiliation to Ibrahim Sulaiman Kabia aka Bulgur –a childhood friend and associate. Many People believed it was a wise decision for Chopper, Bulgur and the others to have fled the Country noting that most of those who risked staying were rounded up and have since been incarceration. A reference was made to Ibrahim Sankoh, Fonti Sankoh, Ishmael Kabia – the elder brother of Bulgur and many more who are still in Police Custody with very serious criminal charges.
A relative who preferred not to be mentioned, said it went to a time when the hunt for their brother was intensified after his wife resurfaced in the Locality. The general suspension was that Chopper must have been hanging somewhere within the Township of Lunsar.
Sources close to Chopper indicates that he is still struggling in exile and was tempted to return home following what appeared to have been an amnesty for those on Politically motivated cases. ‘But how can he or the others risk coming home at this particular time when they are still wanted by the State and while the matter is yet in the High Court of the Country’ – an elderly man opined.
Although the actual cause for the Lunsar Riot is unclear as ever, it could not be unconnected with the level of disgruntlement of the Youth of Marampa Chiefdom over what they alleged to be a misuse of Public Funds and other related issues of Community interest. The disgruntlement flared to a point when a lot of scathing versions were making headlines on the Social Media. Ibrahim Sulaiman Kabia aka ‘Bulgur’ was believed to have authored some of these correspondences.
There are instances when the Paramount Chief of Marampa Chiefdom – Pc Bai Koblo Queen 2nd. was directly accused of corrupt tendencies. As a result, the Paramount Chief made an official report to the Police in Lunsar following which ‘Bulgur’ was invited and subsequently detained.
When the news of his detention at the Lunsar Police Station was circulated, the Youths quickly mobilised themselves and have him released. A scuffle ensued in the process between the Angry Youths and the Armed Security Personnel which resulted to the destruction of lives and properties.
Below are the Photos of Abu Bakarr Bangura aka Chopper, Ibrahim Suliaman Kabia alias Bulgur, Abdul Karim Kabia alias Shabalala.