The Chairman of the Bombali District Human Rights Committee Peter Conteh in an interview on the 23rd of April 2024 has expressed disappointment over what he says is the blatant violation of the Human rights of a six-month-old baby in Makeni, Northern Sierra Leone.
“The Committee is disappointed that a six-month-old baby is being assaulted and nothing is done to ensure the perpetrators face justice,” Peter Conteh, the Human Rights Committee Chairman stated.
Expressing his disappointment, Conteh said the Committee had learned about the unfortunate incident and called for a swift investigation into the matter.
Six-month-old Mahmoud Kondeh, who lives at 8 Lunsar Road in Makeni together with his mother was allegedly pelted with a stone on the neck by one Isatu S Kamara, the wife of Camilo A Kamara, a member of the Sierra Leone People’s Party in Bombali District. Though the boy had been in pain for weeks, the family said nothing had been done to ensure justice was served.
Conteh said the reckless use of political connections to unleash mayhem on ordinary citizens must not allow them to have a place in society. The matter has made the Committee angry after the family revealed that the alleged perpetrators are bragging about their political connections.
“This reckless use of political connections is increasing every day and we will ensure it doesn’t work in this matter,” the Human Rights Committee Chairman stated.
The alleged incident, Isha Turay, the mother of the boy said occurred on the 8th of April 2024. Though the matter is reported to the Mena Police Station in Makeni, the mother of the boy said there seems to be political interference and delay.
The wife of the said SLPP stakeholder and some members of her family, the mother said are bragging that they’re connected with the ruling Party and that nothing will come out of the matter.
The delay in charging the matter to Court, Conteh said is unfortunate and a deliberate ploy to deny justice. And such unprofessionalism, the Human Rights Committee Chairman stated is a recipe for chaos.
Camilo Abdul Kamara and his wife have denied the allegation. Kamara said the six-month-old baby had been with the pain in the neck before the alleged incident. In fact, he says the boy was born with the said neck problem.
When contacted via phone call, the investigating officer says he won’t comment on the story.