Police Declare Gibrilla Bangura Wanted as Group Leader of a Protest
On May 1st, a day intended to spotlight youth activism and political reform quickly spiraled into a nightmare. I, Gibrilla Bangura, served as the leader of a youth-led protest that sought to challenge the ongoing political stalemate between the APC and SLPP. Alongside a determined group of demonstrators, we took to the streets of Malama Thomas, marching from Sani Abacha Street to PZ in the heart of the city. Our mission was simple but powerful: to raise our voices for justice, demand accountability, and push for a better future for our country’s youth.
Yet, our peaceful protest was met with brutal and unforeseen violence. As we approached our destination, a line of police officers blocked our way, commanding us to disperse. But we stood firm, convinced that our cause was just and our right to protest valid. In response, the authorities escalated their suppression, first deploying tear gas to suffocate the protestors and then, to our horror, firing live bullets into the crowd. In an instant, what began as a peaceful demonstration turned into a scene of terror and chaos. I watched helplessly as some of my closest friends were shot dead, while others were arrested and dragged away before they could even voice their grievances.
In the midst of the confusion and bloodshed, I managed to escape, though it came at a heavy price. In the days that followed, my name, Gibrilla Bangura, became synonymous with dissent as news outlets across the country labeled me the leader of the protest and a wanted fugitive. My face appeared on television screens and in newspapers, branded as the orchestrator of the unrest. With my life now in danger, I was left with no choice but to flee my home country.
On June 10th 2023, I arrived in Turkey, a foreign land that provided me with safety but not relief from the trauma I had experienced. Back home, my parents believed I had been killed in the aftermath of the protest, unaware of my fate. It wasn’t until I reached this place of refuge that I could contact them, letting them know that I had survived, though I was far from the life I once knew. The violence, loss, and forced exile had left indelible scars.
Today, I am a political refugee, seeking asylum in a country that offers me protection but where my future remains uncertain. My story is not just one of survival, but also of resilience in the face of overwhelming adversity. The fight for justice that began on the streets of Malama Thomas continues, even from thousands of miles away. Though I have been displaced, my mission is not over. It has only just begun.
