It all began with the August 8th,9th and 10th protest, during which a sit-at-home Nationwide protest was observed on the 8-9th of August, and demonstration took place on the 10th of August, which was called by an organization of Sierra Leoneans in diaspora, with representatives in the country, known as the P.P.P (People’s Power In Politics).
I was one of the organisers of the protest, and played a pivotal role in that protest. As the protest progessed, the demonstrators were confronted by security forces, who fired teargas and live bullets, killing several protesters, including onlookers in their homes. This was followed by a nationwide curfew declared by the government.
During the said curfew, security forces and known members of the Presidential Guard went on a hunting spree, looking for alleged organizers, and ended up targeting known members of the main opposition party (APC), especially as the President, in a broadcast on both radio and television, branded the protesters as terrorists. Security forces then went about breaking into homes of known opposition party members and supporters. Many people were dragged from their homes and bundled into pick up vans with no registration numbers. Some of them were never seen again and are feared dead. There were reports of indiscriminate killing of suspected protesters by the security forces, some on the streets, others in their homes and others while being taken away from their homes.
According to sources, the house of one was raided several times, but to no avail, as he was informed by his neighbour not to return to his house, as there was strong security presence at his house looking for him. After several days of raiding his house, they stationed ruling party youths in the area to monitor the house. News of whereabouts became known when on 14th of August,2022, at around 4:45 pm, armed security forces raided houses in Makeni, northern Sierra Leone, the stronghold of the main opposition party APC, targeting homes of known operatives of that party.
According to eyewitnesses, who spoke on basis of anonymity, armed security forces fired at a house where a popular opposition party blogger had taken refuge, ordering all occupants to come out. Eyewitnesses affirmed that the security forces were in military fatigue wielding heavy machine guns, and all of them wore masks on their faces.
The said armed officers surrounded the house firing indiscriminately into it. During the process the popular blogger, COMRADE HASSAN S.DUMBUYA commonly known as EVANGELIST SAMSON, was shot. Sources disclosed that others in the house tried to escape using a concealed exit, but in the process, was shot in the leg, and later captured. He was mercilessly beaten by the security forces until he lost consciousness and taken to Freetown on the 15th August, 2022 and detained at the Pademba Road Correctional Center.
Family members who had not seen their loved ones were refused access to the mortuary in Freetown to identify bodies of people taken there, who had died from gunshot. Even those who had been taken to the main Correctional center in Freetown were not allowed visitors or legal representation visits. Inmates, sources disclosed, were being tortured, in a bid to get them to implicate targeted individuals as being sponsors of the protest. After almost 10 months of torture at the Correctional facility, on one fateful day, one Human Rights organization dealing with the rights of people behind bars and imprisoned, visited the facility and had the opportunity to talk with them. After explaining his ordeal at the fact and absence of any court trial, the organization decided to look into his case and got the legal machinery going for a trial to commence.
So on 5th June they told him that he would be making his first appearance in Court. However, based on his health condition, the court decided to give him bail with the support of his medical report, and directive that his lawyer should present him in Court when demanded. As the trial commenced, there were regular adjournments until November 26th, 2023, when the failed coup happened. Few days after the said attempted coup, is said to have left his house in town to see the former Youth League President and the current substantive NATIONAL ORGANIZING SECRETARY of the ALL PEOPLE’S CONGRESS party, but was told that he was in a meeting at the former President Ernest Bai Koroma’s residence at Goderich is said to have joined them at Goderich, but few minutes into the meeting there was commotion at the gate of the residence, followed by gunshots. One of the main bodyguard of the former President was killed. Upon this discovery, many inside the house escaped by climbing over the back fence of the house. Upon escaping from this attack on the former President’s house, attempted to go home, but was again warned via his phone that he has been declared wanted in connection with the attempted coup and his picture is on display for his arrest.
Our source furthered that after that warning and fear for his safety, …..may have left the country and has not been seen since. Meanwhile, the police have issued a bounty on his head and declared him wanted.