FREETOWN, Sierra Leone — Mohammed Lamaranah Bah, a resident of 7 Fannah Factory Road in the east end of Freetown, has been forced into hiding following intense pressure from both the Sierra Leone Police and local community members. Authorities have accused Bah of being a perpetrator in the violent anti-government protests that rocked the eastern part of the capital on August 10, 2022. However, speaking through representatives before his disappearance, Bah vehemently denied the charges, claiming he has been framed purely because of his active membership in the opposition All People’s Congress (APC) party.
The accusations stem from the deadly clashes in Freetown on August 10, 2022, during which civilian protests over the rising cost of living spiraled into violent confrontations with security forces. The government and police subsequently classified the events as a “premeditated insurrection” and launched an aggressive nationwide manhunt, releasing wanted lists and conducting targeted raids to track down alleged organizers and rioters. Security forces and certain community members loyal to the government targeted Bah’s residence at Fannah Factory. They alleged that he played a role in mobilizing youth or participating in the unrest that paralyzed the eastern corridor of Freetown.Framed for Political AffiliationFrom his hidden location, Bah maintains his innocence, asserting that the allegations are politically motivated fabrications. As a vocal and active local organizer for the main opposition APC party, Bah argues he has become an easy target for state actors seeking scapegoats.”I did not commit any crime,” Bah communicated through a relative who spoke on condition of anonymity. “My only ‘crime’ is my political stance and my open support for the APC. They are using the chaos of the August 10, 2022 protests to hunt down opposition voices in the community and silence us.”Human rights groups and opposition leaders have previously raised concerns regarding the aftermath of the demonstrations, citing instances where police operations transformed into politically charged profiling. Reports indicate that secret night raids and community-led vigilante actions have targeted individuals based on party lines rather than concrete criminal evidence.Fleeing for Survival and Justice Bah made the difficult decision to go at large because he fears for his life under the current hostile climate. He and his family are deeply convinced that he will not receive a fair trial if he surrenders to authorities. Amid reported extrajudicial actions and harsh detentions of opposition figures, Bah believes that remaining at large is his only option to avoid immediate harm and political persecution.
Currently, Mohammed Lamaranah Bah remains at large. He faces dual threats from law enforcement officers searching for suspects and hostile community factions. Family members express deep fears for his safety, pointing to the fate of other suspects who faced severe extrajudicial actions or heavy-handed treatment upon arrest. As the political divide in Sierra Leone remains tense, Bah’s case highlights the dangerous intersection of civil unrest, strict law enforcement, and bitter partisan rivalries. Local police maintain that anyone who has fled should surrender to the nearest station to face the formal legal process
