For taking part in August 10 protests..

Former APC minister’s house help wanted

Amara Sesay

Former Minister of Internal Affairs in the then APC government, retired Major Alfred Pablo Conteh’s house help, Hawanatu Turay, is wanted by the Sierra Leone Police and Ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party supporters for allegedly taking part in August 10 protest that claimed the lives of many Sierra Leoneans including six Police Officers.
In August 2022, violent protests and riots broke out in Sierra Leone. The protests were concentrated in the capital, Freetown, and in the north, including Makeni and Kamakwie.
A nationwide curfew was imposed, internet abruptly shut down.
The cause of the protest was tensions regarding the unending high cost of living, inflation rose to 38.9% in June, prices of fuel astronomically increased over the past few years.
Sierra Leoneans felt that the government lacked support for the people.
Protesters were unhappy about the government’s limitation of the freedom to hold peaceful protest. The country’s public order act, enacted in 1965, requires permission from the police to protest, which is not granted.
Before the August 10 protest, in July 2022, a peaceful protest in Freetown was led by market women and this resulted in hundreds of arrests and allegations of police brutality.
Reports reaching this medium have it that, the former minister’s house help Hawanatu Turay was allegedly seen in the middle of the protesters carrying placard, but suddenly disappeared after gun shots were fired by the police and military personnel.
Family sources say, after the scattering of the protesters by state security, some SLPP youth swiftly stormed the residence of Hawanatu Turay in search of her.
Family sources who begged not to be named said immediately those sate security and SLPP youth entered the house, they searched its nooks and cranny, but Hawanatu was nowhere to be found.
They stated that since they could not find Hawanatu, the SLPP youth in full view of the officers promised Hawanatu’s parents that they will burn down the house if they failed to produce her within a short period.
“Indeed, Hawanatu is a member of the APC party, she was also working for a former APC minister, why are they targeting her life for expressing herself?”
One of Hawanatu’s sisters queried.
Report marking round is that Hawanatu Turay has fled the community to an unknown place in the city.
Hawanatu’s family members are reported to have also left the house for fear of their lives seeking refugeelsewhere.
As at time of going to press last night, the whereabouts of
Hawanatu Turay
and her family members is still unknown.
We are monitoring the situation.