University Lecturer Among Others Declared Wanted!!

By Adama B. Kamara

A Senior University Lecturer at the Milton Margai Technical University (MMTU), Christopher Bangura was declared wanted by the Sierra Leone Police for Sunday 10th September, 2023 demonstration in the streets of Freetown and other parts of the country for allegedly inciting, mobilizing and leading youth that resulted to the huge loss of lives and destruction of properties.

It could be recalled that on 10th September, 2023 several citizens stormed the streets of Sierra Leone to demonstrate against the government for the hardship, high cost of living and rapid inflation in the country and prior to the demonstration there were audio messages on social media calling on Sierra Leoneans to come out and protest against the government and informed the international community that they were tired with the happenings and hard times they were going through in the country.

This medium gathered that Christopher Bangura has been going through several intimidation, threats, harassment and emotional torture under the government due to his political beliefs and classes in the university and his publications that is his civic initiative ideology published on social media on 21st November, 2021.

According sources within the university, Christopher Bangura’s lectures were censored, recorded and reported to the university and government authorities especially at the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) headquarters, Wallace Johnson Street, Freetown.

A close relative of Christopher Bangura, Alfred disclosed to this medium that Christopher has experienced intimidation, emotional torture and threats from his workplace where he almost lost his life by unknown men in military fatigue, adding, “Mr. Christopher has been accused of inciting students and community members against the university authorities and the government may has led of him been declared wanted”.   

He further revealed that it was so difficult for Mr. Christopher Bangura to lecture his Module (Political Science/Politics/Government) in an atmosphere of authoritarian reign like Sierra Leone.

Alfred reiterated that Christopher Bangura hailed from the Northern region of Sierra Leone and a limba by tribe and a strong member of the All Peoples Congress (APC) the main opposition party in the country.   

One anonymous protester disclosed to this medium that the demonstration on Sunday 10th September, 2023 started peacefully holding placards and singing songs calling on the government to leave as they were tired and the demonstration continued for about four hours before the Sierra Leone Police then RSLAF) interrupted the procession by using live bullets and firing of teargas canisters on the peaceful demonstrators and the situation got out of hands when they saw the security personnel killed three protesters in cold blood that aggravated the situation leading to the protesters setting ablaze police stations, vehicles, burning of tires on the roads and mounting road blocks.

The Sierra Leone Police on their public notice called on citizens to report and give information to the police for the where about of Christopher Bangura among others that were suspected to have participated on 10th September, 2023 protest that led to the death of police officers and civilians.

The sum of Le 10, 000,000 (Ten Million Leones) was promised as reward by the police to anyone who provides information on the where about of Mr. Bangura and several other people who were suspected to have participated to the said demonstration.

This medium also gathered that the where about of Christopher Bangura among others is yet unknown as the police continued to hunt for them upto press time.