Reports reaching this medium reveal that one Mohamed I. Sesay, a youth leader of the main opposition party APC in the fishing village of Tombo, Western Rural District, narrowly escaped being eliminated by security forces, who were being led by ruling party youths, identifying homes of known opposition party members, accused of inciting youths in the locality to go on the rampage and disturb the peace of the community.
According to sources in Tombo, the whole protest began over the decision to allow only 15 fishing boats to go out to sea, against a government directive that placed a moratorium on all fishing boats, banning all fishing activities across the country in response to the containment of the fast spreading coronavirus disease.
As a fishing community, this moratorium greatly affected the livelihood of residents, and appeals were made for a review of this government decision.
However, while awaiting what the government would do, on May 6 2020, the headman and other government functionaries in Tombo instructed that only 15 boats will be allowed to go out to sea. This decision infuriated Mohamed and others, especially as the boats that were allowed to go out were owned by known supporters of the ruling party.
Sources furthered that the youths then engaged the leadership of the village and the police in commander on how unfair this decision was and its repercussions on the wider fishing community, who depended solely on fishing for their livelihood. Their concerns were disregarded and they were ordered to disperse.
Infuriated, the fishermen decided that either they all go out to fish or no one goes out. Violence then erupted, with ruling party youths in the community attacking known opposition party youths. Reinforcement was called up from the regional police division at Waterloo.
Eye witnesses disclosed that they saw both police and military personnel disembark from vehicles without number plates, armed to the teeth, and with the direction of the headman of the village, went about firing at residences of known opposition party members. Sections of the community were cordoned and a search mounted for alleged inciters of the said riot. The security forces stormed the residences identified by the youths and a list handed to them by the headman and ruling party executive in the village, breaking doors and firing indiscriminately at any moving object.
Mohamed Sesay, a popular opposition party coordinator in the village was targeted and his house raided. Upon getting information about the imminent attack on his house, Mohamed tried to escape and was pursued by ruling party youths and the armed security forces into a nearby bush. They fired teargas and live rounds in the direction of Mohamed, who had just entered the bush. Eye witnesses furthered that they saw Mohamed being pursued by the combined group of youths and security forces, amidst heavy firing.
Community youths then stormed the police station in the village, burning down the facility, as well as the house of the village headman. Several youths were shot dead and arrests made. As things calmed down, a manhunt was mounted for Mohamed I Sesay and others, most of whom had taken to the bush.
Family members of Mohamed say that they were beaten and their house damaged by ruling party operatives in the company of the security forces, and that they too are fearing for their safety. They also stated that since Mohamed was pursued into the nearby bush, he has since not returned and his whereabouts are unknown.
As we go to press the whereabouts of Mohamed I Sesay are still unknown and the police have confirmed that he is a wanted person in connection with the said riot at Tombo that has resulted in the deaths of several people and destruction of government and private properties.
