The owner of the provision shop which was burgled and which is at the centre of the riots in Rotifunk Abdul Karim Bangura has accused the police of stealing from his provision shop, alleging further that some of the stolen items were found at the police post in the morning.
Speaking to Awoko Saturday in Lungi Bangura whose shop is situated at Mahera Road in Rotifunk said “my shop is just a stone throw from the Police Post and the Police had already mounted a check point in the area, how can somebody broke into the provision shop without police being aware, ” he queried
He also said that youths had earlier mounted a vigilante check point but the police arrested some of them and later took over the check point, there by taking control of all activities in the area that night.
It was the same night Bangura said that thieves broke into his provision shop and carted away goods worth over ten million Leones (Le10m).
“They stole bags of sugar, onions, salt, cartoons of maggi, tomato, batteries, and tins of cooking oil and these were among the things found in the police post,” he alleged.
He said “during the morning hours of Thursday last week family members, friends and business partners went to the shop after news spread that my shop had been attacked by robbers, some of the items were seen in the Police station, so people started pelting stones on the police post.”
Bangura said he later went to the Police post to make an official complaint and met Sgt Thoronka who obtained his statement and took photographs of the crime scene. After few minutes he said youths demanded that the Police vacate the township because they are failing to protect lives and properties.
He also said that “stakeholders within the township had made efforts resolve the situation but the behavior of the L.U.C Henry Sesay and another police officer only named as Martin came along with more reinforcement from Lungi and both SLP and OSD officers started to shoot to kill.”
Speaking to the Regent Chief of Kaffu Bullom Chiefdom Mohamed Hassan Bangura who also doubles as the Chairman of the Police Partnership Board he expressed frustration and dismay over the bad attitude exhibited by the Police accusing them of not working in the interest of the people.
The Regent Chief also accused the LUC of not consulting the Police partnership Board on their activities in the chiefdom and called for his immediate replacement including all those involved in the stealing, killing and wounding at Rotifunk.
He said, even the police post was constructed by the community and if there was any problem with regards the rampant armed robbery, the police could have professionally consulted chiefdom authorities rather than taken the law into their own hands.
The Regent Chief expressed regret over the death and wounding of his people by the Police and presented bullet shells found on the ground after the police had left the place.
He also called for an immediate investigation into the matter.
He said “the people are very angry with the police and he as Regent Chief could not guarantee their presence at the police post until the matter is investigated and culprits are dealt with according to the law to avoid any future re-occurrence”
However, the accused LUC Henry Sesay was not available for his comment, but the Director of Media at the SLP, Superintendent Ibrahim Samura who was also in Lungi, told Awoko that the Police officers involved in the matter will be investigated, adding the military and the police are also working together to restore peace in the area.
He encouraged the people to respect the law.
By Saidu Bah