Reports from the east end of Freetown, revealed that police have declared Abubakarr Khalifatu, wanted, a young man living at 8 Ansley Street, Fourah Bay, the son of a devout Islamic Cleric in the community, Mamadu Bah, over allegations of same sex activity with an underage boy, as well as engaging in a prohibited act in Sierra Leone.
According to sources, Abubakarr Khalifatu Bah was caught red-handed having sex in the neighboring compound, with a neighbor’s son, an underage boy of 16 years. It was disclosed that as the alarm was raised by the neighbor, Abubakarr’s father was informed about his son’s act. This news shocked Abubakarr’s father, who, in a feat of anger, attempted to go over to the neighbor’s compound, and upon reaching the gate, gave a sudden shout of pain, grabbing his chest, slowly slumping down to the ground. He is said to have fainted and had to be rushed to the hospital, where he died shortly after. Hospital sources say that he must have had a heart attack, and was said to be an hypertensive patient.
Meanwhile, Abubakarr Bah is said to have tried to escape during the confusion to resuscitate and convey his father to the hospital by family members and neighbors, and during his attempt to escape, he was caught by area youths, who had rushed to the scene, and was mercilessly beaten, rescued only by a police patrol team, who took him helplessly to a hospital further east of the city, for medical attention. It was also disclosed that while taking treatment for injuries sustained from the angry youths, at the government Public Health Unit (PHU) at Wellington, Abubakarr Bah is said to have escaped from police custody, and has been declared wanted by the police, who have now mounted a man-hunt for him.
According to police sources, Abubakarr Bah was rescued in a helpless state from an angry mob by a team of officers patrolling on the night of 19th September 2018. They maintained that seeing the hopeless situation he was in, they decided to take him to the government PHU for medical attention, and stationed one police officer at his bedside. They furthered that while receiving treatment, the suspect (Abubakarr Bah), managed to escape from the security officer, who was attending to a potential riot at the hospital outpatient area, on the request for assistance by the medical workers there. The said emergency was to help them address a fracas at the outpatient area, where some angry bike riders and youths were in a heated exchange over an alleged accident caused by a commercial bike rider on a young lady, who was rushed to the hospital in a critical state. They explained that it was at that moment that Abubakarr Bah managed to escape, on the excuse of using the toilet to ease himself. They furthered that they have issued a warrant of arrest for him and are looking out for him.
Speaking to family members of Abubakarr Bah, it was revealed that he was caught by their neighbor having sex with his 16 years old son, in the neighbor’s house. An alarm was raised, which brought residents and youths in the area to the house, and when Abubakarr’s father heard the news, he was shocked and tried to go next door, but in the process, had a heart attack, from which he never recovered from, and died shortly after arriving at the hospital.
Residents and youths in the area ran into the neighbor’s house and grabbed both youths, but their attention was diverted by the falling to the ground and losing consciousness of Abubakarr’s father. Family members and neighbors fought to resuscitate him, and had to rush him to the hospital, but that he died shortly after.
Family members explained that Abubakarr’s father is a devout Muslim and an officiating cleric in the community mosque and highly respected by all, and such an act, which is a taboo, and described by both religious faiths as demonic and satanic, is not tolerated in society and illegal by the laws of Sierra Leone. They maintained that this incident was a surprise, as Abubakarr did not show signs of any association with gay people, nor did they have any idea prior to that day, that he was gay. They maintained that they too were shocked to witness this demonic act.
In cases of people apprehending gay practitioners, the police turn a blind eye to mob justice being metted out on them, especially in rural communities. Those arrested, have been serving long jail terms, as a deterrent from spreading such demonic practices.
However, family members say that the police have raided known friends and places frequented by Abubakarr Khalifatu Bah, but have not been able to find him, and have issued a warrant for his arrest. As we go to press the whereabouts of Abubakarr Khalifatu Bah are yet unknown.
