POLICE INVESTIGATION REPORT THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS DEPARTMENT (CID) MAKENI POLICE STATION RE-A REPORT OF AN ALLEGED CASE OF INCITEMENT AND RIOTOUS CONDUCT IBRAHIM TURAY
Name of complainant: Sierra Leone Police
Address: Freetown
Re-A Case and Enquiry File Recorded on 19th July, 2020, commenced at 09:00 hrs at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Makeni Police Station in Makeni, against Ibrahim
19th July, 2020
INTRODUCTION: This has to do with an alleged case of Incitement, Riotous conduct and disorderly behaviour likely to cause the breach of peace reported against Ibrahim Turay of No. 7
Goderich Street, Freetown. This case was incidental for investigations.
BRIEF FACTS:
This department is investigating an alleged case of Incitement, and Riotous Conduct and disorderly behaviour against Ibrahim Turay of No. 7 Goderich Street, Freetown and other angry youths of Makeni.
Information gathered by the Sierra Leone Police revealed that on the 1 7th of July, 2020 the government of Sierra Leone was about to relocate EDSA generator which was generating electricity power to the township of Makeni and its environs to the Lungi International Airport Portloko District, which resulted in a big protest between the youths of Makeni and security personnel.
The protest descended into chaos as some of the protesters attacked the ruling party’s office in Makeni, damaging doors and windows. The police and army personnel responded with gunshots and tear gas canisters leading to a stampede. Five people were reported killed, including a 15 -year-old schoolboy who died shortly after arriving at Makeni’s main hospital.
Several protesters were arrested. At least 51 people were reportedly arrested in connection with the protest while 10 protestors sustained injuries. The authorities have come under heavy criticism for the heavy-handed repression. Hundreds of young men and women poured onto the streets setting up barricades to block the road to prevent the transfer of the I M W Caterpillar generator by the Electricity Generating and Transmission Company (EGTC) from their city to Lungi. On July 1 7, 2020, the youth of Mankeni, a city of 137 kilometers east from the country’s capital Freetown, took to the street to protest against the government’s decision to relocate an electricity generating power plant from Makeni to Lungi, which according to the government is currently in dire need of electricity. Additionally,/the removal raised further suspicion when the team arrived after 9.00pm with armed personnel to do the transfer. The youth resisted the transfer on suspicion that it was an attempt by the Ministry of Energy to disrupt the uninterrupted power supply of Makeni.
According to the report; Ibrahim Turay was accused as one of the inciters who was involved in the planning and organizing the protest on the 17th and 18th July, 2020 in Makeni, Northern Part of Sierra Leone cursing Political unrest which resulted in a blood shed and the killing of some Civilians and security personnel. This gave rise to the arrest and detention of several suspects in police custody. Information further alleged that, Ibrahim Turay’s father was an employee in the Ministry of Energy and he was accused of conspiring with some angry youths or indigene of Makeni City to protest against the Government’s decision to relocate the EDSA generator from Makeni to the Lungi Airport and his son Ibrahim Turay was spotted among those protesters in the township of Makeni.
According to report, on that fateful day, 17th JCL’, 2020, during the protest, people were killed especially the youths. During the course of Police investigations, during the protest innocent civilians were killed and several houses were burnt down by the protesters. Some protesters were arrested whilst others escaped to an unknown destinations including Ibrahim Turay.
The Police put out a warrant of arrest in force for his arrest, for the offences of incitement and riotous conduct and disorderly behaviour where Ibrahim Turay was named as one of the prime suspects, who organized and involved in the July 17th, 2020 protest; he is nowhere to be found.
Because Ibrahim Turay; was named as one of the prime suspects for planning and organizing the protest and inciting young students and community members to protest against the decision of the ruling government. It is an offense according to Section 4 (12) Cap 2 in the Criminal Procedure Act of 1965 of the Laws ofSierra Leone.
Some of the youths arrested are still in police custody awaiting trial. Investigations are still ongoing but
Ibrahim Turay is still nowhere to be seen. He was declared wanted by the Sierra Leone Police for the offense of Incitement and Riotous and his photos has been displayed at Mena Police Station and the Police are encouraging members of the general public to give any vital information that will lead to his arrest.
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