Reports reaching this medium states that the Sierra Leone Police has mounted a man-hunt for Foday Kargbo, a known supporter of the main opposition party, alleged to have been involved in the protest of August 10 2022, which resulted in the deaths of 6 police officers and 35 civilians.
According to an investigation mounted by this medium, it was revealed by close associates of Foday Kargbo that he is being sought after by the police and some youths after he was identified as a strong supporter of the main opposition party (APC), the party that has been accused by the government as being behind the protest that turned violent, as a result homes and whereabouts of known opposition party members were raided and many arrested. It was also revealed that the aggrieved armed wing of the police (the OSD) were angry over the death of the police officers, who they claimed were killed by the protesters, as a result, they went on the rampage beating and arresting known party operative of the main opposition.
In the case of Foday Kargbo, he is said to have been sought after when information reached the police that his brother Alie Abass Kargbo, a businessman with a shop at Sani Abacha Street in the Central Business District, and living at 5 Dan Street in the eastern part of Freetown, was instrumental in providing food and water to the protesters who were moving along the streets of the city protesting against the high cost of living. Close sources explained to this medium that Foday’s brother was shot, house at Dan Street burnt down and lost his youngest child in the inferno, but that his wife and two other kids managed to escape. They furthered that the killing of the brother was done by
the police, who shot him at close range, whilst the burning down of his house was done by ruling party youths in the company of the police.
Our source further disclosed that whilst Foday tried to escape from the police and ruling party youths, he was caught and mercilessly beaten along the Kissy road highway, and abandoned when other youths began pelting the police with stones. A friend of Foday, who wished to remain anonymous, explained that he discovered Foday on the street, half conscious, bleeding from his mouth and bruises all over his body, and with the help of other youths, managed to take him to safety. He disclosed that Foday could not walk, furthering that it appeared as if his toe was fractured, as he was busy screaming all the way.
His friend maintained that he took him to his house and gave him some first-aid, but since the situation was tense, and a curfew had been declared, with security forces (combined police and military) were busy raiding known homes of main opposition supporters, Foday had to leave. He maintained that the whereabouts of Foday since he left his house are still unknown, and he is worried over his safety. He also confirmed knowledge of the killing of Foday brother by the armed police in his house, as well as the burning down of his house by youths of the ruling party.
It could be recalled that during the violent protest, the security forces stormed the streets and shot directly at the protesters, killing many, as video footages show, and during the curfew that was declared, these armed officers, in the company of ruling party youths stormed residences and known hideouts of main opposition party supporters and members. There are reports that there were extra-judicial killings taking place, and most of the dead were loaded on board the police vehicles and taken away to unknown destinations. Even those taken to the city’s main mortuary were not allowed to be seen by their respective family members, as there was high security presence around the facility, and all roads leading there were blocked to both vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Shortly after the riot, the police declared several individuals wanted, with its spokesman adding that there are others being looked for. Among one of such person was one Evangelist Samson
in Northern Sierra Leone, the stronghold of the main opposition, a vocal blogger of the opposition party, he was gunned down in broad day light by the combined security forces, and his body taken away. This action, and many others have seen many opposition party members and supporters going into hiding.
However, as we go to press the whereabouts of Foday Kargbo are yet unknown, and feared dead or among missing persons that family members are still looking for.
