By Alie Sonta Kamara
Police have arrested nineteen individuals connected to the burning down of six houses in the outskirts of Rutile following the alleged kidnapping of 60-year-old Mariatu Konowa of Simbeck Village.
This incident has brought unrest to Rutile residents in the wake of the festive season.
When the matter was reported to the Rutile Police Division in November, the law enforcement unity issued out a 72-hour search period for the alleged kidnapped victim.
Upon the expiration of this time, Crime Officer Daniel Elkers Jusus said the family of the victim summoned the attention of a ‘morray man’ to find the whereabouts of the old woman and who might have had hands in her week-long disappearance.
Community elders said the inclusion of sorcery toppled the police intervention as people began pointing fingers at certain individuals as responsible for the disappearance of 60-year-old Konowa.
On Monday, 9th November, the victim arrived frail and sick when the sorcery was ongoing. With mixed feelings already created, certain youths took the law into their own hands, accusing one Mr. Morray and Mr. Osman Tarawally as suspects.
They went to Canal Village and burnt down three houses belonging to the family members of Mr. Tarawally. They proceeded to Shegbema Village and burnt down two houses and another two in Simbeck Village.
“These youths ended this raid in Nyandehun Village where they maliciously destroyed a welding shop and looted properties worth thousands of Leones. They claimed those whose houses were burnt down are responsible for the disappearance of the old woman,” Crime officer Jusu told this medium.
Owners whose houses were burnt down by the irate youths reported the matter to the Rutile Police Division. So far, Police have arrested nineteen suspects and are looking for many more at large.
Alpha Bundu, who had his house razed to the ground in Shegbema Village, said he did not know why they put him under such distress. “Those who burnt my house did not give me any reasons,” he added.
Chief of Simbeck Village Forba Johnny said the old woman is mentally disturbed. “She is my big brother’s daughter living with me. At times, she could just go out naked. My younger sister here would attend to her. This has been the case for four years now,” he explained, adding that this is not the first time the old woman has disappeared and come back.
Suspect Osman Tarawally, a scrap metal dealer, said he was out of Rutile for two weeks on a business trip when 60-year-old Konowa disappeared. He described the accusation as malicious and defamatory, aimed at bringing his hard-earned reputation to the mud. “I am cooperating with the police to see the end of this case. We will dig deep to root out all those who are behind this,” he said.
