A mysterious death involving Alie Thullah, a third-year student at the Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM), has sparked protests in Freetown.

In a case shrouded with mystery, the sudden death of Alie Thullah, a third-year student at the Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM), is currently being investigated by the Central Police Division in Freetown.

Thullah, who was also a young technician, was found dead in the premises of H. Baydoun & Sons store on Wilberforce Street, in the heart of Freetown’s Central Business District. His body was discovered on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, leading to a significant outcry from angry protesters who stormed the store demanding answers.

Conflicting reports have surfaced regarding the events that led to Thullah’s death. According to some accounts, he had been hired by Mahei Baydoun, the store’s business manager, to fix a Satcom dish and deal with other electrical issues. It was reported that Thullah had spent the entire day working at the store on Monday, September 30, 2024. The management, however, claimed to have locked the store after his departure, only to find him dead the following day.

Baydoun, who described his relationship with Thullah as close and cordial, noted that he had left Thullah working in the ceiling area of the store’s inner roof, where he was completing his technical tasks. After failing to reach him by phone and assuming that Thullah had returned home, Baydoun locked the office. However, a concerning development occurred the following morning when an Indian national living nearby detected a strange odor coming from the ceiling. After investigation, Thullah’s lifeless body was discovered.

CCTV footage from the store reportedly showed Thullah climbing into the roof to continue his work before his untimely demise. The cause of death remains unclear, with suspicions that he may have been electrocuted or possibly met with foul play. The body has been transferred to Connaught Hospital for further investigation. Students from IPAM, outraged by the news of Thullah’s death, protested, demanding justice and setting parts of the store ablaze. Authorities are urging calm while they continue their investigation.