One killed, opposition members violently chased out
By Amara Bundu
Reports reaching this medium indicate that, at the just concluded Tonko Limba local council bye-election at Ward 156 which took place on the 28th September 2018, one 14 years old boy, Amadu Kamara, was reportedly killed, opposition members including one Isha Bangura, a party agent were violently chased out by irate youth of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party SLPP for stoutly protecting their party’s votes.
According to an eyewitness who begged not to be named, SLPP supporters, just after voting ended stormed the various polling centers beat, kicked, violently destroyed ballot boxes and chased out party agents of the opposition APC.
Reports from Tonko Limba Chiefdom also have it that Aruna A Kamara an FTN reporter, AYV reporter and Ibrahim Sesay of SLBC were assaulted and molested by SLPP thugs even though they were with their NEC media accreditation.
The eyewitness informed that, the SLPP youth also allegedly committed gross human rights violations and political intimidation against innocent villagers because the said Chiefdom is believe to be an opposition stronghold.
Our eyewitness informed that Isha Bangura and other APC party agents who stood their ground to resist those that were not qualified to vote in that election were targeted by youth of the ruling SLPP.
Reports state that during the said bye-election there were scenes of mass exodus of young people believed to have come from other parts of the country with green t-shirt and unfamiliar fleet of vehicles whom local residents believed were armed SLPP thugs brought there to disrupt the election.
The eyewitness recounted that some government officials were also spotted around voting centres, giving instructions to voters as well as their party agents to vote for their SLPP candidate.
The eyewitness further revealed that police fired tear gas canisters and live round ammunition at party agents and local residents.
Our eyewitness explained that Isha Bangura and others who were spotted by irate youth running for their lives were chased out and ended up fleeing to the nearby bushes.
Reports state that Isha Bangura since the Bio administration took of governance in 2018 has been a strong critic of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party SLPP government, a reason she has not been in the good books of the powers that be.
As at time of us going to press last night, the whereabouts of Isha Bangura and other party agents are still unknown.
We are monitoring the situation.