Exclusive : How Maada Bio got hurt in Bo
September 9, 2011
We have received more reports from Bo from some supporters of the All People’s Congress (APC ) on circumstances leading to the present chaos in Bo. According to Sinneh Kamara, they were at the APC office when they saw a massive throng of SLPP supporters heading towards the APC Headquarters singing provocative songs against President Ernest Bai Koroma and the APC. “They were well-armed and bent on causing trouble and they were led by one of the noted SLPP youths in the town , known as MUSA MOIBU . “
Mr. Kamara said that when the crowd got to the APC office, they started raining stones into the compound. It was in the affray that followed that the Presidential candidate got hit on the head by stone discharged from a catapult by KALILU , a known SLPP supporter. Mr. Kalilu reportedly told eye-witnesses that he belonged to the anti-Maada Bio faction in the SLPP.
According to Saidu Turay of Njagboima Town, Maada Bio had gone to a mosque to pray. At the end of the prayers, Mr. Bio got up and thanked all his supporters for the welcome accorded him in Bo. After Bio spoke in the mosque, he then led a huge procession of youths , many of whom were armed to the teeth with guns and knives. He also stated that the mob was led by Mr. Musa Moibu. When they arrived at the APC Headquarters , they started throwing stones . This led to chaos between the marauding youths and APC supporters in the vicinity, Mr. Turay continued.
“Then a young man whose name is Kalilu got a ‘rubber fak’ (Catapult ) and discharged a stone which hit Mr. Bio on the head. He said that at this point, bedlam broke out completely and the well-armed SLPP youths then set the APC Headquarters on fire. ”The Police despatched officers to come and stop the fighting but they were unable . Then as the fighting spread, the SLPP youths pounced on one of the police officers beat and injured him . People claimed that he died but it is not true.He is alive. They also injured three other officers, ” he went on.
Right now, the chaos is going on. Supporters of the SLPP are said to have massed around Njagboima and are calling on other supporters from neigbouring villages to come out and join them. APC supporters have alleged massed around the Christ the Kings College ( CKC ) campus.
WE WILL BRING YOU MORE REPORTS AS THEY COME IN.
Stay with Cocorioko for part II
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KEY FINDINGS
During the Course of the Investigation the following Key Issues were identified
a. Legality of the Procession
It has been established that on the 29th August 2011 the SLPP District Secretary Bo Mr. Mohammed E.K Alie wrote a letter to the Paramount Chief Kakua Chiefdom Bo PC Prince Lappia Boima the fourth and the LUC Bo Police Division Mr. Theophilus Senesie requesting for clearance and Police coverage for a procession, Pouring of libation at the Party office and a public meeting at the coronation field in Bo; in respect of the visit of the flag bearer elect of the SLPP Rtd. Brig Julius Maada Bio on Friday 9th September 2011.
In response to that request, the Local Unit Commander for Bo District Mr. Theophilus Senesie who was in a workshop in Freetown instructed his chief clerk to issue security clearance and to provide security for the visit of Rtd. Brigadier Julius Maada Bio, whose letter was dated 9th September 2011. It has also been observed that on the 9th September 2011 the SLPP presented the route for the procession to the Police. This Panel has established that the Procession was legal and authorized.
b. Wounding of the SLPP Flagbearer Brigadier Rtd. Julius Maada Bio
It has been established that during the course of the investigation the SLPP Procession arrived at the vicinity of the PMDC and APC offices along Mahei Boima Road Bo at about 1500hours on the 9th September 2011. It has also been established that when the Procession arrived at the PMDC office, the flag bearer was standing through the sun roof of the vehicle where he waved to the people who were standing in the compound of the PMDC office. It has also been confirmed that the procession was peaceful up to the point when they arrived at the vicinity of the APC office. It was at that point that the first sets of stones were pelted at the procession from the direction of the APC office. It has been confirmed that the following people Mohamed Conteh Alias Bomb Blast, Alias Bobby APC and Lamin Alias Shakur were among the people throwing stones.
The investigation has confirmed that the SLPP flag bearer Brigadier Rtd. Julius Maada Bio was hit on the head by a stone released by a catapult by Mohamed Conteh Alias Bomb Blast. This stone that hit the SLPP flag bearer’s head resulted in wounding and oozing of blood from his head. Additionally, this wounding has been confirmed from three source Eyewitnesses, Video clip of the procession, medical reports from Dr. M.B Yilla of Kindoya Hospital No.1 Prince Williams Street Bo, Dr. Patrick Bankah (Ghana) and Dr. Rashida Kamara .
It has also been confirmed that after the SLPP flag bearer was hit and wounded on his head stones started coming from the SLPP Procession towards the APC office. Damage on the rear screen of the vehicle the flag bearer was also confirmed.
Evidence adduced so far has confirmed that on Friday 9th September 2011 about thirteen (13) people were found behaving in a riotous manner and throwing stones within the vicinity of the APC office in Bo along Mahei Boima Road Bo.
The thirteen (13) suspects are as follows:
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Amadu Mansaray
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Osman Mansaray
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Alhaji Abdulai Sesay
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Ibrahim Conteh (alias Shakur)
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Junior Sillah
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Bockarie Baimba
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Osman Jalloh
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Mohamed Conteh (alias Bomb Blast)
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Mohamed Koroma (alias APC Ratti)
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Mohamed Massaquoi
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Alhaji (alias Evil Nya‐Nya)
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Abdullai Bangura
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Shaka Kamara
Riotous conduct
5. CONCLUSION
Based on the findings through statement taking, interviews and onsite visits to the crime scene the Panel concludes;
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That the APC Youths started the stoning
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The burning down of buildings was carried out by supporters of the SLPP.
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The shootings were done by the OSD personnel in Bo and it resulted in one dead and twenty three people injured including two police personnel.
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The APC Regional Chairlady South was also stabbed by an irate youth.
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The Panel also confirmed that the senior police officers of Bo Police Division were out of station and there was no operational order for the visit of Brig. Rtd Maada Bio.
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The Panel also established that the Bo Fire Force did not respond to the fire call.
