By Kadiatu Sankoh
More than two weeks after the deadly August 10, 2022 protests in Freetown, the whereabouts of Foday Yamba Sesay a known supporter of the All People’s Congress (APC) party remain unknown. While police sources suggest he may be linked to the unrest, authorities have yet to officially confirm his arrest or disclose his location, fueling anxiety among his family, community members, and human rights observers.
A neighbor of Sesay, who requested anonymity for security reasons, told this publication that in the early hours of August 11, 2022 during the curfew, he saw armed men some dressed in combat fatigues moving through the Shell New Road community. According to the witness, the men broke into Sesay’s room but later came out and left the area.
“I have not seen Foday since that night,” the neighbor said. “That was the day after the August 10 riots.”
The source further disclosed that he later learned from police officers that Sesay was among those suspected of mobilizing youths who took part in the unrest. The youths allegedly erected roadblocks along the main street and damaged several vehicles during the violence.
A concerned relative of Sesay said the family fears the worst, noting that many loved ones believe he may have been killed during the reported extrajudicial killings that followed the protests.
The police have not officially confirmed Sesay’s arrest or whereabouts, and his disappearance continues to raise concerns among residents and human rights observers.