The Organising Secretary for Zone 16, Constituency 020 of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) in Kenema city, Wahab Kanneh has sustained two stab wounds and head injuries in an intra-party violence on Saturday March 13, 2021 at the Party’s office in Kenema.
According to trusted sources, Ahead of the lower-level elections within the ruling SLPP, members who went to collect their party ID cards were violently driven out of the party office leading to some severe injuries.
The violence emanated after the District Chairman received the party cards last Friday night. The Cards were to be distributed at Constituency levels to legitimize carriers of it to vote during the lower-level election.
The Victim told Premier News: “This morning I was at home when our Zonal Chairman called for a meeting regarding the party ID. The purpose of the meeting was for us to go and collect our ID cards because the election is on March 27, 2021.
He said that when they came to the party office, another group of the party’s membership, including the District Chairman was at the office, adding that the Party district Chairman stopped them from entering the party office and thereafter, party Marshalls started throwing stones at them.
“I ran and hid in a nearby store. So, I don’t know who told the marshals that I had entered the store. The Marshals held weapons like cutlasses, knives, and stones. Unfortunately, the marshals entered the store and stabbed me on my arm and the side,” he said. “Imagine, people took cutlasses from party office and chased us and the district Chairman did not stop them,” he claimed, emphasizing that the incident happened in the presence of the Chairman.
“They hit me in my head several times with the cutlasses and stones. I was seriously beaten, I have serious pain,” the Victim cried in pain.
He explained that the Marshals only stopped beating him when they noticed that he was bleeding profusely.
“I was rushed to the Kenema Government Hospital where the nurses dressed my wounds. I received seven stiches on my arm. I have not slept since that day. I have noticed that my jawbone is broken and I have serious internal head injury,” he furthered.
He claimed that the District Chairman has formed a parallel executive that was why he stopped them from entering the office because he doesn’t want them to get the party ID card which will legitimize them to vote during the election.
Former Councilor of SLPP, Anthony Fonnie said, “On that day I saw the victim bleeding and I took him to the police station to make statement, and I later took him to the hospital for medication.”
Fonnie disclosed that he is currently responsible for the medical bills of the victim, adding that he had been worried over the results of the X-Ray done on the victim, but expressed relief that the X-Ray result shows that the injuries to the victim’s head are not major.
The SLPP District Chairman, Moriba Koroma alias Agbaoo has accused key stakeholders especially the Resident Minister East, Former Hon. Nicole, Former Councillor Fonnie, Ishmail Koroma and hosts of others of being behind the conflict.
According to the District Chairman, it was last night when the District Secretary General Sama Vandi Sama attempted to have some possession of the cards, adding that this didn’t go down well with some other party Members and a fight ensued between the Secretary General and one of the Constituency PROs over who should be in control of the cards.
The Assistant Inspector General of Police East (AIG), Thomas Lahai has, during a meeting summoned by the political leaders of Kenema district including the Chief Minister, warned all intending to engage in any act of lawlessness before, during and after the lower level elections of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) to refrain forthwith or face the full penalty of the law.
AIG Thomas Lahai affirmed that the police are poised to adequately and effectively police the lower level elections of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party in the entire eastern region and warned all to ensure the process is peaceful.
He said before, during and after the lower-level elections of the SLPP in the eastern region, the police will enforce strict policing strategies that will guarantee the peace and security of all.
He told the Chief Minister and other party stalwarts present that the police has a sacred responsibility to protect life and property and described Saturday’s incident at the SLPP party office in Kenema as unfortunate.
AIG Thomas Lahai maintained that the police in the eastern region will continue to execute their duty independently in the maintenance of law and order and called on politicians wanting to undermine the peace of the state to refrain or face the full penalty of the law.
He commended the Chief Minister Prof. David Francis for his lead role in destabilizing camps that had existed amongst party members in the District and encouraged them to emulate and adhere to the good examples of the Chief Minister.
By Stephen V. Lansana
16/03/2021. ISSUE NO: 8021