By Mabinty M. Kamara
Police in Makeni are investigating an alleged armed robbery case involving two students of the University of Makeni (UNIMAK).
Tamba Allison Koroma and Raymond Felix Bangura are third and final year law students of the university who are alleged to have attacked businesswoman Mariama Sesay at her shop along Azzolini Highway in Makeni at around 5p.m on Wednesday 16 February 2022.
Speaking to Politico, Police Media Officer for the Northeast, Chief Inspector Abdulrahman Sankoh said immediately the suspects left the crime scene on a motorbike, the victim came out calling for help. A commercial motorbike rider, who happened to be around, offered help. Joined by a group of people, the rider chased the two suspects and they were subsequently caught at Albert Street, some 300 to 400 metres from the scene of the crime.
He said the police immediately started an investigation into the matter and offered a search warrant for 12 Mitchell Street in New York, Makeni which is the home of the alleged armed robbers. Sankoh said that on the following day they discovered a toy pistol, two kitchen knives, a yellow rope like the one that had been used to tie up the victim, two pairs of scissors and cash amounting to Le 8 ,719, 000 (Eight Million Seven Hundred and Nineteen Thousand Leones).
The University administration, according to the Media Officer, confirmed that the suspects are students of the University but distanced themselves from their alleged action.
Chief Inspector Sankoh said that with robust night patrols and community engagements, there had been a decline in armed robbery, especially at the Mena Police division.
He said the medical report had since been issued to the victim with the suspects in their custody with investigations in progress; but that they were yet to ascertain if the two have accomplices. He commended the efforts of the community and the commercial motorbike riders for helping apprehend the suspects even in the absence of the police.
Copyright © 2022 Politico Online (25/02/22)
