By Mohamed Vandi in Kenema
Concerns over a missing child at Sembehun village some 40 miles from Kenema have heightened in the eastern provincial headquarter town, almost two years since the case was first reported.
Apprehension over the apparent lack of seriousness in investigating the matter was strongly manifested in the many questions directed at the newly transferred Assistant Inspector General of Police, East, Alfred Karrow Kamara, during a discussion programme on the local Eastern Radio.
Concerns were that his predecessor, AIG Sorie Kargbo, made little efforts to investigate the said matter.
Musa Gassimu slammed the police for "failing" to probe the matter since 2012. He said all of the suspects arrested were released and the case abandoned. He said “the police are supposed to be a professional body that cannot afford to abandon such a sensitive matter”.
He urged the AIG to revisit the case file and bring to book the culprits.
Hawa Kallon pleaded with the AIG to come to their aid as residents of the community where the child went missing.
Meanwhile, AIG Kamara confirmed to Politico that he had received several concerns from residents of Sembehun and civil society groups over the said matter.
He said it was the responsibility of a professional police officer to respond to such concerns and that he had reopened the file to look into the matter again.
The eastern police boss said that on 26 February he led a team of police officers, media representatives and civil society to the location where the child got missing.
He said statements were taken from different people and some evidence was established.
The AIG pleaded with the community people to remain calm and to help give vital information that would help the police carry out their investigations.
He said the prime suspect, one Gibba Kamara, was presently in custody.
(C) Politico 06/03/14
