The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has urged authorities to speedily investigate the beating of radio broadcaster, Alie Melvin Tokowa.

Tokowa was said to have been beaten by a group of people after he attempted to cover an event by the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) in Moyamba late last month.

Witnesses claimed that Tokowa was beaten, choked, and kicked by seven people in the Southern District.

The attackers have been identified as supporters of Moyamba District SLPP politician, Joseph Benedict Mbogba. Witnesses said the radio broadcaster was about to film a dispute between Mbogba and another SLPP politician.

CPJ’s Africa Programme Coordinator, Angela Quintal has urged authorities to thoroughly investigate the “brutal beating” of Tokowa and bring those responsible to book.

“Too often, journalists on duty are attacked in Sierra Leone, and those responsible do not face the consequences,” Quintal protested.

Reports said that Mbogba’s supporters attacked Tokowa even after identified himself as a journalist. The assault is believed to have lasted for 15 minutes resulting in the hospitalization of the journalist.

Investigations are currently ongoing but there are fears that it would lead to a dead end.