What has been declared by many in the main opposition party APC as a ploy to arrest or kill exiled politicians and sympathizers of the APC party has backfired, as some returnees have either been killed or arrrsted and standing trial on charges of treason in relation to the attempted coup of 26th November 2023.
Among one of the lucky persons is a political activist and Youth District Chairman of the main opposition party (APC) in Makeni, northern Sierra Leone, Braima Bangura. Unlike the others who returned, Braima Bangura stayed back, doubtful of the reconciliation that the current government was preaching.
It could be recalled that after the signing of a Peace Communique between the main opposition party APC and the ruling party, SLPP, the government called on all those who had gone into exile to return home, as the said agreement guarantees their freedom. Several APC party activists and supporters returned, only to be arrested or killed as orchestrators of the November 26 attempted coup. Many Sierra Leoneans believe that this is a ploy to eliminate prominent members of the main opposition party APC, especially as the former President, Ernest Bai Koroma, was put under house arrest and has been surprisingly charged with treason.
It could be recalled that shortly after the June 24th General Elections, the security forces in the company of armed ruling party youths, stormed residences of known opposition party members, killing and arresting them on allegations of wanting to overthrow the government, simply because the opposition party rejected the outcome of the elections and demanded that the Electoral Commissioner publish the disaggregated results, including calls by international observers like the EU, US Cater Foundation, UK and local observers.
Unfortunately, those who heeded the call of the government to return were arrested, with some shot dead in their homes on allegations of involvement in the November 26 attempted coup. Family sources of Braima Bangura in Makeni say that their residence was attacked and one member killed, with several male inmates carted away. It was disclosed that the security forces in the company of ruling party youths stormed the residence of Braima on the belief that he too has returned, but were disappointed, he is said to still be abroad.
The angry youths and security forces then threatened to kill him whenever he surfaces in the country. Braima Bangura cannot be reached for comments on the current situation, as key family members have gone into hiding.