By Alhaji Turay
Reports reaching this medium indicate that a young man identified as Abass Fofanah, a resident of Cemetery Road, Rokel, off Waterloo, is currently on the run after allegedly being caught engaging in a homosexual act with one Foday Turay of 9A Kennedy Street, in the eastern part of Freetown.
According to police sources, the incident occurred on September 24, 2023, when Fatmata Kamara, said to be the girlfriend of Foday Turay, reportedly caught the two men in a compromising situation inside the bedroom of one Chairman Gibril Sesay at Kennedy Street.
Upon discovering the alleged act, Fatmata raised an alarm, attracting community stakeholders and residents who stormed the scene. The enraged youths allegedly assaulted the two men with sticks and other weapons. During the chaos, Abass Fofanah managed to escape, while Foday Turay was left injured and helpless on the ground.
The following morning, Fatmata Kamara and other community members reported the matter to the Ross Road Police Station. Police officers, including a Scene of Crime Officer (SOCO), visited the location but found that both suspects had disappeared.
Subsequent investigations revealed that Abass and Foday had fled the community, with reports suggesting that Abass may have crossed into neighboring Guinea. Both men have since been declared wanted by the Sierra Leone Police for alleged violation of the country’s laws against homosexuality.
Family sources disclosed that Abass, an interior designer specializing in painting and ceiling designs, had faced intense stigma and threats from his family and community following the incident. His mother, Haja Hawa Kanu, told this medium that Abass had shown signs of same-sex behavior from an early age but had kept it secret for years.
Abass hails from a strict Islamic background. His father is reportedly an Imam at an Eastern Freetown mosque, and the family is well-known for its religious discipline. Family members expressed deep disappointment, describing his alleged conduct as contrary to their faith, culture, and traditions.
Community members said they were outraged by what they described as “a shameful and unholy act.” Some even organized a manhunt for both suspects, believing they had disgraced the community.
In a separate interview, Abass’s wife, Mrs. Mah Teghen Pelagine (née Fofanah), expressed distress over the disappearance of her husband. She said she has not seen or heard from him since the incident and is struggling to care for their two young children — Adora Hawa and Patrick Smith.
“No matter what happened, he is still my husband,” she said. “I just want to know where he is. The community and even the police have been pressuring me to produce him, but I don’t know his whereabouts.”
Police sources confirmed that relatives of Abass have been invited for questioning as investigations continue.
Under Sierra Leonean law, homosexual acts are criminalized and carry severe penalties, including life imprisonment with hard labor.
The police have urged the public to remain calm and allow the law to take its course, while appealing to anyone with information about the whereabouts of Abass Fofanah or Foday Turay to report to the nearest police station.
