NEWS FLASH
The All People Congress ( APC ) Presidential candidate , Dr. Samura Kamara yesterday went through a harrowing near death experience at the hands of government armed troops at the Mile 38 checkpoint near Freetown as live bullets were fired at a vehicle carrying him from the airport after his trip to the United States.
We bring you live video coverage on the scene and various reports by the Sierra Leone media
President Bio’s Brutal Police Use Live Bullets to Attack Convoy of APC Leader Samura Kamara
By Abu Shaw, the ORGANIZER NEWSPAPER
Shock and anger ensued yesterday in the aftermath of the unprovoked SLPP police attack on the convoy of the APC party leader & presidential candidate.
The popular APC party leader Dr Samura Kamara and president-in-waiting was being escorted from Lungi International Airport to the capital Freetown yesterday when the irresponsible shooting of one of the vehicles happened. Dr Samura Kamara and his APC entourage landed on Saturday night from the United States where they spent one week on diplomatic engagements. On arrival at Lungi Airport, the APC party supporters and members as well as ordinary citizens who admire Dr Samura Kamara decided to give a fitting welcome to the APC leader by accompanying him to Freetown. (Photo: Samura, top, with running mate Chernor Maju Bah aka Chericoco, red cap, yesterday).
President Julius Maada Bio does not like crowds to accompany his bitterest rival Dr Samura Kamara. Nevertheless, Sierra Leoneans appeared in droves to welcome the man of the moment. The crowds that turned up at Lungi Airport and along the Port Loko route to Gbarray Junction to Mile 38 and on to Freetown were enormous. As usual, Dr Samura Kamara has always been a crowd puller, a unique characteristic that has embarrassed President Bio who does not have the same persona of pulling crowds where ever he goes in the last five years of his reign. This jealousy has forced the irritating Bio presidency to order his police to prevent public gatherings of Dr Samura Kamara. (Photos: Bullets casings yesterday. And the police chief Fayia Sellu).
That was the motivation that spurred President Bio’s brutal police to open fire on Dr Samura Kamara’s convoy yesterday at Mile 38. Eyewitnesses say live bullets rang out as armed police officers brandished their rifles toward the vehicles. They shot the tyres of one of the vehicles in the convoy which shocked the occupants and bystanders. Social media was awash with videos showing the punctured tyres and the bullet shells on the ground. Undeterred, the ever-active APC supporters went ahead with renewed determination to escort their leader and the president-in-waiting Dr Samura Kamara.
Most of the newly elected APC hierarchy including the running mate Chernor Ramadan Maju Bah aka Chericoco were present to welcome their leader Dr Samura Kamara. At Mile 38, where the shooting occurred, Dr Samura Kamara subsequently addressed the crowds to quell the tension. He warned them not to be afraid but they should be vigilant, be peaceful, and must abide by the law. “We know what we want and they know what they want. We will not allow this country to go to another war anymore. What happened here today has been sent abroad,” Dr Samura Kamara told the crowds amid applause followed by the APC party song. (Photos: APC members yesterday. And the tyrannic President Bio).
Despite all the hurdles along the way machinated by State House to frustrate and threaten the lives of APC leadership and the entire membership, Dr Samura Kamara’s convoy eventually reached his Lumley residence in Freetown. The APC National Secretary General lawyer Lansana Dumbuya summarised what happened yesterday at Mile 38. On his Twitter page, Lawyer Dumbuya wrote: “The APC Samura Kamara convoy to Freetown has been attacked at Mile 38 by state security guards. State officers named Ibrahim Sama, Boika, and others fired live rounds of bullets. We are still being held up at the Check Point. We desist any form of intimidation,” lawyer Lansana Dumbuya’s tweet ends.
As we go to press, no word from President Bio or the Inspector General of Police William Fayia Sellu regarding the shooting yesterday. Other schools of thought say the shooting yesterday at the long convoy of Dr Samura Kamara was an assassination attempt on the life of the APC leader. Earlier, the violent government had instructed Dr Samura Kamara and his entourage to use the Ferry to come to Freetown but the APC leader said no. He said he would use the Port Loko road instead, and that was what he did. Political observers have intimated that the assassination plot rumour cannot be ruled out as President Bio and his failed SLPP regime are desperate to hold on to power by any means necessary. Everyone knows that Dr Samura Kamara is President Bio’s Hercules Heels.
Soldiers Stop Samura Kamara At Mile 38, Fire Gunshots
Some Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) personnel have reportedly stopped the convoy of the main opposition, All People’s Congress (APC) flag bearer, Samura Kamara and opened fire at a civilian vehicle. Samura Kamara made this known on his Twitter handle. According to Kamara, his convoy was stopped at Mile 38 Checkpoint from entering the country’s capital, Freetown. He added that, in execution of “orders from above” the soldiers fired seven live bullets on an unarmed vehicle. The APC flag bearer revealed that troops of military personnel are still in confrontation. The APC presidential candidate is returning to his residence at Freetown after a week-long trip to the United States
According to reports, Kamara left the US on Friday night after engaging US Congressional Leaders, senators, head of human rights organizations, Democratic institutional leaders, representatives at the Carter Center, and other Sierra Leoneans living in America in a town hall meeting. By Ibrahim Hashim
