PRESS BRIEFING BY TEAM JOB COMMUNICATIONS CENTRE ON THE COLD-BLODED MURDER OF MOHAMED KARIM aka DADDY IN KENEMA ON MAY 27TH 2016.
On Wednesday May 25th 2016, a high powered delegation led by Chief Somano Kapen, Chairman and Leader of the Sierra Leone People’s Party and comprising of Mr. John Oponjo Benjamin, among other stakeholders, travelled to Kenema after several days of discussions at the PPRC. The mandate of the visiting delegation was to engage party stakeholders in both Kenema and Kono districts to resolve the issue of parallel executives that hitherto existed in the two districts in order to ensure peaceful coexistence prior to the imminent lower level elections slated for June 2016.
The team held successful discussions with all major stakeholders of the SLPP, including meetings with the Kenema City Mayor, Kenema District Council Chairman, Eight Members of Parliament, the previously elected Kenema District Executive, members of the parallel executive otherwise known as the Paopa group etc. etc. The various consultations were peacefully concluded by the evening of Friday May 27th 2016. The visiting team agreed to continue to Kono district on Saturday May 28th 2016.
JOHN BENJAMIN
As with the other members of the delegation, Mr John Oponjo Benjamin’s convoy left for his usual place of residence in Kenema along the Kenema-Bo Highway. The Team JOB convoy suddenly realized that they were been hotly pursued by a group of rowdy supporters of Maada Bio, headed by a security detail of Maada called Mohamed Fonnie. In a sudden twist of events and without any provocative act on the part of members of Team JOB, Mohamed Fonnie stabbed one of JOB’s supporters called Mohamed Karim aka Daddy, a citizen of Segbwema town and dedicated member of Team JOB, Njaluahun Chapter. The police hurriedly rushed Daddy to the Kenema Government Hospital where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. Team JOB unequivocally condemns such barbaric act of violence in our noble party that has always been renowned for its commitment to the tenets of democracy and civilized politics. In our view, violence before or after flag bearer election should never be condoned in SLPP and all those connected with this needless killing of our party member should receive the maximum punishment as guaranteed in the National Constitution and the applicable laws of Sierra Leone.
Team JOB extends its heartfelt condolences to the family of our late colleague in Segbwema as well as to Mr John Oponjo Benjamin to whom Daddy provided dedicated and exclusive support for the flagbearership contest of the SLPP. May his soul rest in perfect peace.
Since this murderous act was carried out, Mr. John Oponjo Benjamin has been incessantly receiving telephone calls expressing sympathy, shock and concern notably from His Excellency President Ernest Bai Koroma, Cabinet Ministers and several senior government functionaries with assurances that the incident will be speedily investigated and culprits made to face justice accordingly. Team JOB extends special thanks and appreciation to His Excellency the President and other government functionaries for the concern and, significantly, the assurance that the due process of law will be transparently followed.
Team JOB is also profusely thankful to the police under the leadership of AIG Karrow Kamara for the prompt and professional handling of the investigation into this reprehensible act perpetrated by criminals some of whom have already been apprehended. As a result of the prompt intervention of the Eastern Regional Police Command, the alleged assailant, Mohamed Fonnie who doubles as security for Maada Bio has been arrested together with other suspects and helping the police in the investigation.
While the investigation continues, Team JOB urges and appeals to party members, family members and the general public to remain calm and allow the investigation to proceed to conclusion unhindered.
As police investigation proceeds, we urge the SLPP leadership that was present in Kenema at the material time to institute prompt internal investigation with the objective to identify any culprits for appropriate disciplinary action in line with the SLPP Constitution.
Team JOB will keep all informed about funeral arrangements and other developments in due course
Team JOB Communications Centre( Headquarter Freetown).
