By Alhaji Ibrahim Bangura
Information gathered by this newspaper have revealed that former anti government activists, Mr. Saidu Hassan Kargbo and his wife, Madam Rugiatu Sankoh, formerly of 18 Susan’s Bay in the central part of Freetown, are now on the run, fearing for the safety of their lives after they were declared wanted by the government on the accusations that they were involved in organising, financing, inciting, supporting and actively taking part together with some other young men and women to take up arms and rise against the Government on 10 August, 2022 with the aim of overthrowing the government by unlawful and violent means, an exercise that led to the deaths of scores of Sierra Leoneans including six Police Officers, while tens of other people were wounded, Police Stations, government buildings and other houses burnt down and properties worth millions of New Leones looted and destroyed.
The reports further stated that Mr. Saidu Hassan Kargbo is also being searched for afer he escaped from the Pademba Road Prison in Freetown on 26 November, 2023 during the jail break by some armed men who attempted to overthrow the government of President Julius Maada Bio.
Investigations carried out by this Reporter have revealed that a few days after the violent confrontations on 10 August, 2022, Mr. Saidu Hassan Kargbo was arrested by heavily armed Police Officers and Soldiers and his home systematically ransacked, while his wife, Madam Rugiatu Sankoh managed to escape and go into hiding.
The reports further explained that Saidu was taken into custody at the Pademba Road Prison while he was being tried in court for various charges including treason, misprison of treason, incitement, murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
It has also been reported that it was while Saidu was being tried in court that rogue armed men broke open the Pademba Road Prison in the morning hours of 26 November, 2023 during which Saidu escaped and disappeared.
Community people this Reporter spoke with revealed that since Saidu and his wife Rugiatu disappeared from the community they have neither seen nor heard from them.
They explained that they are aware of strange people mostly visiting their community at odd hours of the night who they believe are underground government agents looking for Saidu and Rugiatu.
When this Reporter talked to a Police Officer at the Eastern Police Station on the matter, he stated that they were looking for one Mr. Saidu Hassan Kargbo for alleged subversive activities, incitement, escape from lawful detention, murder and conspiracy to murder while they were also looking for one Madam Rugiatu Sankoh for alleged incitement, subversive activities, murder and conspiracy to murder.
He also revealed while the search for them continues, a reward of NLe 20,000.00 ( twenty thousand New Leones) each will be given to anybody who will give them information that will lead to the arrest
