Police Releases Boasting Lead Suspect
The Criminal Investigations Department in Freetown is investigating a case of alleged arson against Mr. Alpha Bangura, who is alleged to have led some hoodlums to set tyres on fire, and in the process, destroyed the personal effects of the Gateway Evangelical Church (Kingdom of Glory), situated back of Hotel 5:10, Quarry, Kissy in Freetown.
The alleged sacrilege took place on Sunday 24th September 2023, when worshippers were preparing to observe the Annual Youth Fellowship Thanksgiving Service.
According to Apostle Amos Lelleh, on the day of the incident, he received phone calls from some of his members informing him that Alpha Bangura, the ring leader, claiming ownership of the land close to where the church is located, had mobilized thugs to vandalize and burn down the church, adding that the attackers came with petrol and lighters to set the church building ablaze, and that on arrival, they started stoning the church, and in the process, damaged the church windows, CCTV cameras, solar lights, video cameras, organ, two laptop computers and other properties, all estimated at millions of Leones.
He furthered that the attackers also stabbed and wounded one of the church pastors, who was taking video of the incident.
A member in the community intimated this medium that the attackers attempted to rape a 13-year-old girl, who is also a member of the church, with the lady taking refuge in the toilet.
He further revealed that when the police arrived at the scene, they fired teargas and made some arrests, but lamented that the prime suspect, Alpha Bangura, who hid in one of the houses in the community, tried to escape but was arrested by a military officer called by a member in the community, and was handed over to the police. He bemoaned that the main suspect was released by the police within hours.
It was further disclosed that Alpha Bangura also threatened to burn down the church again and the residence of Apostle Amos Lelleh, boasting that nothing will come out of it.
Apostle Amos Lelleh continued that the hoodlums poured petrol and attempted to set ablaze an amputee, a member of the church, on his wheelchair, but that he narrowly escaped.
The matter was earlier reported to the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Dr. John Martin Senesie of the Ross Road Police headquarters and the Local Unit Commander of the Kissy Mess Mess Police Station, Sao Vandy, before it was transferred to the Criminal Investigations Department in Freetown
Apostle Amos Lelleh has also reported the matter to the Pentecostal Fellowship of Sierra Leone, headed by Rev. Bishop Akintayor Sam Jolley.
Reports gathered indicate that since 2017, Alpha Bangura has been claiming ownership of the land, and in spite of the fact that the matter has been reported to the Ministry of Lands, they have not made efforts to adequately address the issue of the two town-lots on which the church is located.
Competent sources at the Criminal Investigations Department confirmed to this medium that eight suspects are in their custody and that the matter is under investigation.
Founded sixteen years ago, the Gateway Evangelical Ministries Church has over the years provided relief items and food to between 500-700 poor and needy people, as was the case during the Ebola outbreak, when hundreds of bags of rice were distributed to the less-privileged in the Quarry community and amputees in Grafton.
Also, the Gateway Evangelical Ministries Church donated 200 bags of rice to amputees in Grafton, cash to the underprivileged and scholarships to deserving pupils in the Quarry, Kissy community.