June 4, 2021
By Aruna Kamara (Bo)
The Criminal Investigations Department at the Bo West Police Division is currently investigating six people who were alleged to be the ring leaders in a riot that sparked malicious damage of properties in Njaiama Chiefdom. The violence erupted, in protest of the Bo High Court ruling, calling for a re-run of the chieftaincy election in Njaima Chiefdom in Bo District.
Speaking to this medium, the Media and Public Relations Officer of the Sierra Leone Police(SLP) in the Southern Region, Inspector Mohamed Bobson Senu explained that Njaima and Bongor were amalgamated to become a chiefdom but later de-amalgamated, with the Jaima and Bongor becoming each a chiefdom on its own.
He said that a paramount Chieftaincy election was conducted in the chiefdom in 2019, with Bassie Katta and Kemoh Luseni contesting, but Katta won the election which was later petitioned by Luseni.
Inspector Senu said that the matter was at the Bo High Court pending ruling. On 1 June 2021, there was a ruling from the court, calling for a re-run of the election, which did not go down well with supporters of both Kata and Luseni. There was an exchange of diatribe between supporters of the two candidates, resulting in riot and malicious destruction of property in the chiefdom.
He said that six people were arrested who allegedly pioneered the riot and arrest was made in order to restore law and order in the chiefdom, whiles adding that the Local Unit Commander of the Bo West Police Division went to the chiefdom on Tuesday 1st June 2021 to monitor situation on the ground. The police confirms that calm have been restored in the chiefdom.