According to sources close to family members of John Paul Koroma, a resident of 315 Bai Bureh Road Freetown, Rokupa, Wellington, security forces have been raiding the residence of John Paul Koroma, a nephew of the former President, Ernest Bai Koroma, on allegation of inciting young Sierra Leoneans to disturb the peace and tranquility of the nation.
Investigation has revealed that shortly after the controversial 24th June 2023 elections and the subsequent declaration of Julius Maada Bio as President, tension rose to fever pitch, as the main opposition party (APC) refused to accept the results, claiming that the result has been tampered with by the Electoral Commission.
Suppoters and party youths took to the streetds,l demanding the provision of the disaggregated days by polling station for verification. A tense face-,off ensued between the police and protesters, which eventually turned into a huge clamp down, as security forces fired teargas and live bullets at the unarmed protesters, killing about two individuals, including a nurse at the main opposition party’s headquarters on Old Railway Line, Brookfields, Freetown. Several arests were made, with many escaping the brutality of the security forces. Party sources say that several of their youths were beaten, their party office teargased and put under siege for several hours.
Sources close to John Paul Koroma explained that after the incident at the party headquarters, known loyalists and ardent supporters of President Bio in the security forces stormed residences of known main opposition party supporters, accusing them of incitement. They furthered that these armed officers in the company of ruling party youths, stormed the residence of John Paul Koroma on 5th August 2023, where he was mercilessly beaten, but managed to escape from their hands when area youths decided to confront the police, pelting them with stones and other missiles. Fearing being surrounded, the security forces fired live rounds and made good their retreat, as tension was very high.
Family sources disclosed that John left the country shortly afterward for fear of his life. They furthered that since he left their house has been regularly raided by a much heavier force, to the extent that they too have had to abandon the house for safety.
Residents in the area confirmed to this medium that ruling party operatives in the company of armed security have been issuing threats against John Paul Koroma, adding that a warrant of arrest has been issued for him. Police sources have also confirmed that a warrant of arrest has been issued for John Paul Koroma, along with other alleged participants in the said protest.
As we go to press the whereabouts of John Paul Koroma are still unknown.