Opposition Party Thugs Issue Death Threats Against Osman Tolo Tarawalie
Reports from the northern town of Makeni indicate that one Osman Tolo Tarawalie, leader of a popular social club known as BIG, escaped death at the hands of opposition party thugs, after being tipped–off by an anonymous caller. Unfortunately, another member of the club was not so lucky and was killed by the thugs, who also attacked his residence.
According to sources close to Osman Tolo Tarawalie, his woes began when he was discovered in the company of the Resident Minister North, a member of the ruling party (SLPP). This discovery led one Abubakarr Kamara (Lamtales), an aspirant for the position of Mayor in the northern town of Makeni, a close friend and one time sponsor of Osman Tolo Tarawalie during his academic pursuit, to believe that his friend has betrayed him and embraced the man who has been going all out to frustrate his dream of becoming the Mayor of the town.
Since Make is the stronghold of the main opposition party (APC), and considering the existing tension between the opposition party and the ruling party, Abubakarr Kamara (Lamtales) was able to mobilize the youths against Osman, describing him as a traitor. It was therefore against this backdrop that the angry youths stormed his residence looking for him.
Our source furthered that the BIG club was formed by Osman Tolo Tarawalie and some concerned youths to enhance development of Makeni and have been organizing various activities to foster peace and inspire young people to embrace education, especially as Osman was a teacher and had passion for his job. It was further disclosed that since tension between both the opposition and the ruling parties’ had reached fever pitch, he and his social club decided to engage the Resident Minister North, with a view to defuse the tension. It was this action that was misconstrued by Abubakarr Kamara (Lamtales), leading him to mobilize the youths against Osman and his club, resulting in the said attack and eventual death of its Vice President on the very day that Osman fled the town.
Rivalry between both political parties had gone on since the ruling party gained power, with many in the opposition strongholds of Free to and northern districts claiming that the government is bent on eliminating its members, especially with the arrest of its members and perpetration of violence against known supporters of the party.
On one such incident, Osman is said to have been among those that protested against the removable of the town’s electricity generating plant from the town to a stronghold of the ruling party, thereby plunging the entire town and surrounding villages into darkness; an act viewed as calculated to subdue areas known to be opposition dominated.
Our source furthered that the utterances of the Resident Minister did not help the situation, as he is on record of insinuating the extermination of opposition elements against the ruling party.
It was therefore not surprising that Abubakarr Kamara (Lamtales) found ready support against Osman Tolo Tarawalie and his team.
Since the thugs were unable to find Osman when they raided his house, they issued threats of eliminating him whenever he surfaces.
Family members say that since escaping capture and elimination on 23/02/2023, he has not been seen nor is his whereabouts known. Family members say that they have been harassed by both opposition party youths in the town and have had threats from the party youths in Freetown.
As we go to press the whereabouts of Osman Tolo Tarawalie are still unknown.