By Mohamed T Massaquoi
Police in Pujehun have confirmed the discovery of a skeleton believed to be of one Mohamed Sheriff who disappeared in 2012 following a hunting expedition, but they have fallen short of being so categorical.
The discovery was made by farmers in a forest along Ngagama village in the Kpanga Karbondeh chiefdom.
The Police Local Unit Commander, Superintendent Nathaniel Brewa told Politico that the discovery was reported to them on 27th January by a group of elders of Upper Kayimba Section led by Sinjo Kanneh who is the Regent Chiefdom Speaker of the chiefdom.
The local police boss said that upon receipt of the report a team of CID officers was deployed to the area. They were joined by community elders and the chairman of the local policing partnership board Joseph Mende. He said that after the routine had been followed a committee was been set up to protect the skeleton while efforts were being made for a pathologist to carry out an autopsy.
Supt Brewa recalled that a matter was reported to his division on the 21 October 2012 of a missing Mohamed Sheriff who had disappeared after going to hunt with Mohamed Songu and Siaka Sannoh for some wild animals they suspected had been wreaking havoc on dogs in the area. Police have rearrested the two as suspects in what is suspected to be a murder case.
Songu and Sannoh were first arrested in 2012 but were released because they could not be prosecuted when the hunting gun Sheriff was said to be carrying was not seen.
One of pair of flip-flops which was discovered at the time of Sheriff's disappearance is said to match the one found on the skeleton.
Police say the skeleton was found on a shallow ground and did not appear to have been buried deep in the earth. The bones were found scattered on the surface of the ground.
A family member of the late Sheriff, Abibatu Harding pleaded for justice. Sounding convinced that the remains are those of the disappeared Sheriff, she urged the police to use their professionalism in investigating the matter and speedily bring the perpetuators to book.
(C) Politico 30/01/14
