Police in the Panlap Division, Bombali District, have launched a manhunt following the fatal shooting of a fuel pump attendant on the Makeni-Kamakwie highway.

The incident occurred at approximately 19:00 GMT (7:00 p.m.) at the SS Lodge fuel station in Worreh village, just past Yoni village.

The victim has been identified as Anthony S. Kargbo. According to Sergeant John Abass Kamara, Media Officer for the Northeast Region, the alleged shooter fled the scene immediately after the incident and remains at large.

Kargbo was transported to the Makeni Regional Government Hospital, where a postmortem examination is scheduled to take place.

The shooting sparked immediate unrest in the local community. Following the incident, shocked residents in Worreh and the surrounding environs reportedly began pelting the fuel station with stones. Police have since cordoned off the area and are reviewing CCTV footage to identify the perpetrator.

While the motive behind the attack remains unclear, the death has drawn strong reactions from the community. Locals described Kargbo as a “polite and dedicated worker,” and civil society groups are now calling for heightened security measures for night-shift workers in public service areas.

The investigation is ongoing.