The Sierra Leone Police are said to have declared one Abu Bakarr Kamara wanted for taking part in the 10 August 2022 riot in Freetown, in which about six police personnel were murdered in cold blood and a good number of civilians also lost their lives.
The aftermath of what is now known as August 10th was massive arrests of persons mainly from the main opposition, the All People’s Congress (APC), and subsequent trials with the Sierra Leone Police later publishing a “Wanted List” of those who were believed to be behind or to have taken part in the riot.
One of those who are reported to be on that “Wanted List” is one Abu Bakarr Kamara, a groundnuts businessman, who until his disappearance was staying at No.30 Alfosin Lane, Portee in eastern Freetown. He is alleged to be one of the ring leaders who incited other young people to take to the streets, which eventually led to the deaths of six police personnel and scores of civilians.
Reports indicate that several attempts made by the police to arrest him failed as he is said to have fled the country.
Family sources told this newspaper that they had allegedly come under several threats from the police who are reported to be still looking for Abu Bakarr Kamara. They stated that Bakarr’s involvement in the riot was due to the rise in prices of basic commodities, tax increases, the high exchange rate of the US dollar to the local currency the Leone and injustices in the country.
Before the August 10 incident, Abu Bakarr Kamara used to supply bags of groundnuts from neighbouring Guinea to major parts of the country. He is said to be a peaceful and law abiding man but a strong advocate against injustice and abuses of fundamental human rights.