By Hassan Kamara
The parents of 22-year-old Tounkara Conteh have told Global Times Newspaper that they are living in fear and uncertainty following the alleged abduction of their son by a dangerous group widely referred to as the “Soja Team”—a faction of youths and political operatives linked in some quarters to supporters of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP).
The Soja Team is often described as a loose network of young men engaged in partisan enforcement activities and has, in the past, been accused of intimidation and violence in political contexts. Members of the group have been mentioned in connection with the harassment of opposition supporters and the disruption of public order during election-related events.
According to the family, Conteh was taken on 24 August from his residence on Sarah Lane, Goderich, Western Rural District, by individuals alleged to be members of the Soja Team. Since his alleged abduction, the family says they have neither seen nor heard from him and have received no official information regarding his whereabouts. After three days without contact, the family appealed to the government and the general public to intervene to ensure their son’s safety.
Tounkara Conteh is the Zonal Chairman of the Alliance Democratic Party (ADP), an opposition political party led by Mohamed Kamarainba Mansaray. He has been actively involved in electioneering and civic activities focused on promoting accountability and transparency.
Speaking to this medium, Ishmael Dumbuya, a friend of Conteh, said the alleged abduction occurred on the same day as a controversial by-election held on 24 August in Constituency 110, which was contested between Josephine Jackson of the ruling SLPP and Kadie Davis of the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC).
Dumbuya explained that violence erupted during the by-election process, leading to the arrest of several individuals, including Conteh.
“Tounkara Conteh was never part of the electioneering process and was not at the scene,” Dumbuya said. “He was at home when they went there and took him in broad daylight. He was targeted because he is an active member of an opposition political party, the ADP, where he holds the position of zonal chairman in his constituency.”
Conteh’s father, Sallu Conteh, told this medium that upon learning of his son’s alleged abduction, he immediately began searching for him across multiple police stations in Freetown, but without success.
“I first went to the Goderich Police Station, but I was told my son was not there,” he said. “I then went to Lumley, Aberdeen, Congo Cross, the Central Police Station, and even the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters, but he was not found in any of those places.”
Speaking through tears, Conteh’s mother, Kumba Yayah, expressed deep fear for her son’s life, saying she worries that he may have been killed and dumped somewhere.
A neighbour, Mariama Turay, who said she witnessed the incident, claimed that several thugs stormed the area on the day of the alleged abduction.
“They came looking for Tounkara, went straight to his house, took him, and threw him into their vehicle,” she said.
As of the time of reporting, the whereabouts of Tounkara Conteh remain unknown, heightening concern among his family, friends, and supporters.
The police declined to comment on the matter
