The Organizing Secretary of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) for Zone 16, Constituency 020 in Kenema City, Wahab Vandy Kanneh, who had recently survived two stab wounds and injuries to the head, told Premier News on Tuesday, March 16, 2021, that he is unable to see clearly with his left eye.
His visual blurring came five days after he suffered the aforementioned injuries.
It could be recalled that the victim sustained two stab wounds and head injuries in an intra-party violence on Saturday March 13, 2021 at the Party’s office in Kenema. “The Marshals held weapons like cutlasses, knives, and stones. Unfortunately, the marshals stabbed me on his arm and side,” the victim said.
According former councilor Fonnie, 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 erupted after the District Chairman received the party cards last Friday night. The Cards were to be distributed at Constituency levels to eligible those who carried it to vote during the lower-level election.
The victim said that they had gone to the SLPP party office in Kenema for the purpose of collecting their ID cards because for the lower-level elections scheduled for March 27, 2021.
The Victim cried as he narrated to Premier News: “They hit me in my head several times with the cutlasses and stones. I was seriously beaten, I have serious pain.” Now, I am not able to chew hard food and I cannot see with my left eye clearly.”
He explained that the Marshals only stopped beating him when they noticed that he was bleeding profusely.
As of press time, he said, “I am still admitted at the Kenema Government hospital, but the doctor is considering todischarge me so that I will be coming to the hospital every day until I fully regain my health.”
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.
By Stephen V. Lansana
18/03/2021. ISSUE NO: 8023