By Mohamed Kamara
According to Police sources, one Sheku Sankoh, arrested for practicing homosexuality in Freetown and imprisoned in Bo, Southern Sierra Leone, is believed to have escaped from prison and living in Freetown.
They furthered that according to their reports, Sheku Sankoh and his partner, Samba Kamara (now deceased), were caught on 26th December 2019 at the National Stadium swimming pool, kissing and frolicking, by a group of youths, who were also enjoying an event on the said pool. Between November and January of every year, there is always a continuous two months long event at the National Stadium, and on the 26th December, the usual Boxing Day sports meeting is held in the main bowl of the stadium. It was also disclosed that after the sports meeting in the main bowl of the stadium, people usually go to a show at the swimming pool at night, often characterized by what is dubbed as pool party.
Police sources furthered that during the said pool party, both youths were caught and mercilessly beaten by the group of youths, which brought the police to the scene. Several of them were arrested, but upon presentation of video footage of both Sheku and Samba in compromising position, the others were allowed to go and both youths taken to the nearest police station at Adelaide Street in Freetown.
It was further disclosed that Sheku’s partner, Samba was bleeding and had to be taken to the hospital for emergency medical attention. He is said to have died shortly after.
On 1 January 2020, police sources furthered that Sheku was transferred to the Bo Correctional facility (prison), where he is said to have escaped after two years in custody. Operating on information provided by late Samba Kamara’s mother, who is a prominent worker at Parliament building, on 25th May 2022, the police stormed the hideout of Sheku Sankoh at Spur Loop, a secluded area off Wilberforce, but failed to arrest him, as he is said to have gone further down a dangerous route that leads into the forested area of Regent and also parts of the peninsula.
Neighbors at Lumley, the know residence of Sheku Sankoh before his arrest, expressed shock over the news that he was gay, but confirmed that Sheku and Samba were school mates and were seen together regularly. They also intimated that Sheku was a footballer and had so many fans in the area.
The practice of LGBT in Sierra Leone is illegal and frowned at by both religious faiths and traditional religion, who see the practice as demonic and not to be encouraged. According to the law, culprits face life imprisonment, but if caught by the people, they are often beaten to death to serve as deterrent. In some cases, suspects are taken for cleansing to native doctors, who invariably eliminate them on the pretext of treating them through traditional medicine. Even gay right activists often face similar fate.
Family members of Sheku Sankoh, angered by his sexual orientation, do not seem bothered by his disappearance, maintaining that he has brought disgrace to the family name and deserves death. As we go to press the whereabouts of Sheku Sankoh are still unknown and the police search for him is still ongoing.
