_By Alhaji Turay_
FREETOWN, Sierra Leone— Police have declared Hamidu Salieu Koroma and others wanted in connection with the August 10, 2022, anti-government protests that turned violent and left dozens dead, including six police officers.
According to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Koroma, a student, activist, and owner of a popular delivery company in Kossoh Town, allegedly printed T-shirts, banners, and placards used during the protests. Authorities claim the materials carried anti-government slogans such as “We want peace, freedom and justice, Maada must go.”
The protests, triggered by Sierra Leone’s deepening cost-of-living crisis, spread across Freetown, Makeni, and Kamakwie. Demonstrators called for President Julius Maada Bio’s resignation. The government reported at least 27 civilian deaths alongside the six police officers killed, while several properties were destroyed. A nationwide curfew was declared by Vice President Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh in the aftermath.
President Bio accused the opposition of financing the protest, specifically naming Adebayor, a Sierra Leonean based in Holland.
Police sources allege that Koroma conspired with opposition supporters and youth groups to organize the demonstrations, which authorities described as unlawful and violent. Security forces, backed by ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) supporters, reportedly try to arrested Koroma at his residence on August 10. But He was allegedly escaping and go to undisclosed location
Subsequent police raids in Waterloo and other parts of the capital failed to capture Koroma and other alleged perpetrators. Family members were also targeted — his wife, Ramatulai Conteh, and his brother were beaten and arrested, though they later reportedly escaped custody. All three have since been declared wanted by the Sierra Leone Police.
Koroma’s relatives say since his late father, Mr. Saidu Koroma, death in 2007 of natural causes koroma has been leaving with his mother, Yainkain Kamara, and other immediate family vulnerable to what they describe as intimidation and harassment. Opposition voices argue that since 2018, APC supporters have been subjected to systematic arrests and persecution for criticizing the government.
State security forces allege Koroma and his wife were involved in organizing the Freetown protests and have implicated them in the killing of police officers. Police have issued a warrant for Koroma’s arrest, accusing him and others of sponsoring and inciting the August 10 unrest. Koroma, his wife Mrs. Ramatulai Conteh, and their children remain in hiding. His current whereabouts are unknown.
