Over the weekend, tensions between political factions reached a boiling point, resulting in a series of violent clashes in the northern town of Kabala. An activist working with the West Africa Democratic Solidarity Network, Gibrilla Alex Koroma was accused by the ruling Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP) of spying for the opposition All People's Congress (APC). The situation escalated dramatically when SLPP youths attacked and burnt down a vicarage where the suspect was believed to be hiding.
On Saturday, September 30, 2023, early in the evening, witnesses claim Gibrilla Kamara, was spotted entering a vicarage in search of safety. The crowd demanded his surrender, turning the vicarage—a long-standing haven in the area—into the epicenter of mayhem. In the middle of night, the group set the structure on fire after their demands were not fulfilled. Thankfully, the fire did not result in any casualties; however, the vicarage was totally destroyed.
Local sources say Gibrilla barely survived the fire, and it is unclear where he is now. Since then, the Sierra Leone Police have declared him wanted for interrogation in relation to current political turmoil.
This incident comes after Mustapha was implicated in a number of concerning incidents. He was previously taken into custody in Freetown after a violent altercation at the APC party headquarters, which security authorities had raided earlier this month. The APC presidential candidate, Dr. Samura Kamara, was briefly trapped inside the building with a number of supporters before being taken to safety during that operation, and a nurse was tragically died.
Following the Freetown raid, Gibrilla was freed under mysterious circumstances, but according to accounts, a number of his accomplices were killed in the conflict. Suspicions were aroused by his sudden move to Kabala, which led to the violent crowd that night.
