By Alpha Abu
The remains of two men allegedly killed by security forces during the violence in the city of Makeni last month have been buried. The victims were among five people that reportedly died in a confrontation between the security forces and youths in the city, after Ministry of Energy and Power officials decided to transfer a standby power plant there to Lungi, in an effort to improve electricity supply around the international airport area.
Hundreds of mourners attended the funerals of the two men, Augustine Conteh and Thaimu Bangura, amidst heavy security presence, after their remains were handed over to their relatives, for burial.
Unconfirmed reports say the Police provided the sum of 3 million Leones to each of the victim’s relatives, as support towards the funerals. The bodies of the five victims which had been in the morgue since the violent events of 17th and 18th July awaiting autopsy, had enraged family members who said the delay had caused them more pain.
In the wake of the riot which also left some people injured and the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party offices in the city vandalized, President Julius Maada Bio immediately endorsed the setting up of a Presidential Committee tasked with investigating the violent incidents. The committee had since engaged local leaders in Makeni. Last week, a group called the Bombali District Human Rights Development Committee (BDHRC) issued a statement, raising a number of concerns including what the group says was the delay in carrying autopsy on the five victims. Dozens of people suspected of involvement in the riot were said to be in police custody. The police recently denied report that they were holding the Makeni City Mayor Madam Sunkarie Kabba-Kamara and her deputy. But report shave quoted police spokespeople saying they intended to charge the two officials, among several other local authorities, for their involvement in the violence that has led to a rise in political tension in the region.
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