Report reaching this medium reveal that one Sulaiman Richard Kamara, a popular artist and polling agent of the main opposition party APC, narrowly escaped being eliminated by ruling party operatives in the company of armed security forces, shortly after the elections, in the Southeastern stronghold of the ruling SLPP government.
According to sources, Sulaiman Richard Kamara, a resident of 45 Beckham Lane, Mount Aureol in Freetown, was representing the main opposition party (APC) during the Elections of 7th March 2018, in the Southeast of the country, a known stronghold of the newly elected government of President Bio of the SLPP.
Shortly after the declaration of the results on 4th April 2018, the SLPP candidate, Julius Maada Bio, was declared President and immediately sworn in, according to the provisions of the country’s Constitution. All hell broke loose, as youths belonging to the ruling party stormed residences of known APC party members, physically assaulting them, with many narrowly escaping from being lynched.
Unfortunately, Sulaiman Richard Kamara and other party polling agents in strongholds of the SLPP were mercilessly beaten, with reports of deaths among some of them. Sulaiman and others were apprehended by these youths, mercilessly beaten and locked up in a generator room, and fuel poured on the facility, apparently to burn them alive.
Fortunately, a security patrol team rescued them from the burning facility, and in the process of putting out the fire, Sulaiman and others managed to escape. Landing at his Mount Aureol home in Freetown, Sulaiman again narrowly escaped death at the hands of ruling party youths and security forces, who were moving around communities in search of known opposition party members or Sympathizers, breaking down doors and attacking known hideouts of these people. The rivalry between both the SLPP and APC during the campaign period reached boiling point, as many polling agents were targeted.
Family sources say that while trying to update Sulaiman about the activities of the ruling party youths in the area, their house was stormed by these very youths in the company of armed security forces, believed to be loyalists of the new government. With wild shooting in the vicinity, family sources explained that Sulaiman managed to escape via the back door of the house into a densely populated neighborhood, pursued by these youths. They maintained that since Sulaiman left the house on that day, 6th April 2018, they have been under regular raids by ruling party youths and security forces, and have faced death threats, adding that since 6th April 2018, the whereabouts of Sulaiman Richard Kamara are still unknown.
Residents in the area also confirmed that Sulaiman was chased by ruling party youths and security forces, who fired shots to gun him down. They also confirmed hearing death threats against he and his family. As we go to press the whereabouts of Sulaiman Richard Kamara are still unknown.