Nurse Forced to Resign After Alleged SLPP Attackers Brutalized Her Family
In the tense build-up to the Sierra Leone elections, a violent incident unfolded in Goderich, Freetown, leaving a Public Health Nurse and her family traumatized and displaced.
On a fateful Wednesday evening, irate youths, reportedly wearing Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) t-shirts, launched a brutal attack on Laurel M. Kargbo, a state-employed nurse, alongside her elderly mother and children. The assault was so severe that Mrs Kargbo’s mother, due to her advanced age and the intensity of the injuries sustained, spent two months hospitalized.
Mrs Kargbo recounted that the attack appeared targeted, rooted in her perceived political affiliation as an opposition supporter. Three days following the assault, she began receiving threatening phone calls from unknown individuals warning of further harm should she continue supporting the opposition. Despite promptly reporting the incident and the subsequent threats to the Sierra Leone Police, no meaningful investigation was undertaken, leaving Mrs Kargbo and her family vulnerable and unprotected.
Faced with persistent intimidation and fearing for her life and the safety of her family members, Mrs Kargbo was forced to leave her residence and seek refuge at her brother’s home. However, the threats persisted for months. By September and October 2024, the ongoing harassment pushed her to resign from her position as a Public Health Nurse—a decision made out of sheer desperation to safeguard her family.
Anonymous sources within the Ministry of Health corroborated Mrs Kargbo’s experience, revealing the existence of covert SLPP agents embedded in government institutions. These agents reportedly gather information on employees’ political loyalties, which is then weaponized to exert pressure, intimidate, or silence those perceived as unsupportive of the ruling party.
The resignation of Mrs Kargbo underscores a growing and alarming trend: the erosion of safety for public servants in a deeply polarized political environment. Individuals who are either neutral or aligned with the opposition face increasing challenges, including threats, intimidation, and outright violence. Civil society groups and human rights advocates have since raised the alarm, urging immediate intervention to end politically-motivated violence and ensure every citizen’s safety, regardless of their political beliefs.
This incident not only highlights the personal toll on Mrs Kargbo and her family but also reflects broader systemic concerns about governance, accountability, and political tolerance in Sierra Leone. Advocates are calling for swift investigations, justice for victims of politically-motivated attacks, and robust measures to safeguard citizens’ rights, ensuring that no individual is forced to choose between their profession and their personal beliefs.
