By Politico Staff Writer
Police Media 2 for the Southern Region Alhaji Osman Mansaray has told Politico that ten people alleged to be supporters of the main opposition All Peoples Congress (APC) Party are in police custody in the Bo for riotous conduct and other offences.
He said they are being investigated by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) for alleged riotous conduct and wounding of six persons in Foindu, Perri Chiefdom in Pujehun district.
He said eight of the suspects were taken into custody on the 8th of May and the other two on the 10th May after the ruling Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) made a report of victimization by members of the ruling Sierra Leone Peoples Party against the APC members.
The APC Chairman for Pujehun district Mohamed Amadu Sesay in reaction described the allegations as baseless and intended to damage the reputation of their party.
He explained that on 7th May this year, one of their parliamentary candidates Massah Kpakanya Rogers left Foindu to go for her nomination in Pujehun town.
He noted that Rogers was peacefully nominated and that when she returned to Foindu they decided to celebrate the victory together with some supporters.
Sesay said during the celebration, the Town Chief approached their candidate asking who gave them permission to jubilate.
He said their candidate in reply told the chief that she could not access the Court Barray or community centre prior to her trip for the nomination. At that point, he said people who were standing around sprayed their members including their candidate Rogers with a substance.
He said they had to evacuate their members to Pujehun town after which they made a report to the police.
"The town Chief in Foindu and other elders said all those who left Foindu to accompany Massah Kpakanya Rogers to Pujehun for her nomination should not be allowed in Foindu", he alleged.
He stated that some of their members are currently hiding in the bush while others have fled to Pujehun for safety.
Sesay said it was the SLPP members in Foindu that attacked their members but that the SLPP executive in Pujehun district was quick to publish a press statement on the said issue pointing fingers at them.
He said the Office of National Security (ONS), the Local Unit Commander of the Police, and other authorities in Pujehun are aware of the incident. Sesay said they are waiting to hear from the police.
Speaking to Politico, a member of the Public Relations and Communications Team of the SLPP in Pujehun District, Francis Lahai Conteh explained that on the 7th of May, their party stakeholders received news of an attack on their supporters in Foindu by APC supporters who allegedly sprayed on them dangerous chemicals resulting in pain and other bodily harm.
"Our members were intimidated. They were physically assaulted by APC members in Foindu", he claimed.
He said that they do not expect such incidents to happen especially because people are moving across the country preaching peace.
Conteh stated that they had to inform the police and other stakeholders and have demanded that the incident be investigated.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (15/05/23)
