Sierra Leone News:MP and Six Others in Custody

By Stephen V. Lansana

Seven people including the Independent Member of Parliament of Constituency 104, Hon. Shiaka Musa Sama were arrested in Pujehun District over a violent incident which resulted in the alleged killing of two people, the police said on Monday.

The Police arrested Hon Sama for various crimes relating to alleged stopping of work of the Socfin Agricultural Company, incitement leading to the dead of two people -Mohamed Ansumana and one Mustapha, and land grabbing in the Sahn Malen Chiefdom.

According to report, the sudden firing and killing of these youths came after the villagers allegedly initiated an Intruder into the poro society on Sunday 20, 2019.

Giving update on the Sahr Malen Incident, the Media Team of the Sierra Leon Police said in a statement that, the Local Unit Commander (LUC) of the Pujehun Police Division, Chief Superintendent Manfred Williams received a report indicating that a group of people belonging to the Poro society in Sahn Malen were out at Taninahun Village, chanting and singing Poro songs, set up roadblocks, attacked, robbed and kidnapped people.

Responding to the report, the Officer Commander Sahn Malen Police Station decided to visit the scene with some personnel. In the process of engaging these society people at the scene, the Police then came under serious attack from this same group of people. They threw stones, sticks and other missiles at the police; as a result, the Police retreated to Jao Junction for their safety, according to the police.

“They relentlessly chased the Police with verbal threats that they will burn down all security/police facilities in Sahn Malen. With the view to dispersing the riotous society people, the police fired teargas canister which somehow emboldened them. They rushed toward the fence where Socfin Company vehicles and machines were parked. It was at that point that the police reportedly heard the sound of a short gun from the direction of the nearby bush. A hut at the building closer to the fence was set on fire and they engaged in random firing of short guns,” the police said.

Police added that “Two people among the group were fatally shot, allegedly with short guns. Police and Military reinforcement joined the Sahr Malen team and they eventually succeeded in restoring order.”

In total, seven people from the five villages within Malen Chiefdom were arrested and are presently helping with the investigation. According to the police, four police officers sustained injuries; one (OSD) among the four sustained gunshot wound on his head. The Police said that the investigation into the entire incident is ongoing.

It is apparent that a security meeting was held where the President lifted the parliamentary immunity and asked for an in-depth investigation into my activities.

Hon. Sama said that charges against him include Incitement, murder of the two persons who were killed in Malen, obstruction of the operation of Socfin, causing an illegal Poro Society to operate and forcefully grabbing a piece of land.

Hon. Sama denied the charges against him. “I am innocent,” he said.