A forty-five-year-old father in the Northern town of Mile 91 has been declared wanted by the criminal investigation department of the Mile 91 Police Division.

Abdul Toma Kanu was wanted by the Police for allegedly dozing off petrol on his 22-year-old son and setting him ablaze. Mohamed Toma Kanu later died at a local hospital in the town.

On Tuesday, 9th July 2024, Abdul Toma Kanu, the father walked to the Mile 91 Police Station and reported to have poured petrol on his son, Mohamed Toma Kanu which led to his death.

The father was immediately arrested and detained. Police in Mile 91 were investigating the matter but it’s unclear how the father and suspect in respect of the matter could sneak out of the Mile 91 Police Station.

However, a source within the Criminal Investigations Department of the Mile 91 Police Division said the father was placed under the care of one of the officers but escaped from detention.

But a family source has rubbished that assertion and described it as unfortunate. According to the family source, it’s unfortunate that the Sierra Leone Police can allow a man under investigation for serious allegations such as this one to escape from detention. The fact that the suspect walked to the police station and reported to have committed the offence created room for speculations immediately after the public learned that Mr Toma had escaped.

In a WhatsApp conversation, the Local Unit Commander of the Mile 91 Police Division, Chief Superintendent of Police, Michael JK Lagga has confirmed Mr Toma is wanted by the Sierra Leone Police for the alleged incident.

According to the investigation, on the 8th of July 2024, the father reportedly poured petrol on his son and lit up a gas light which left the late son with burns and wounds. According to multiple sources, the late Mohamed Toma Kanu and his stepmother, Kadiatu Toma Kanu had an altercation days before the alleged incident. The late son, sources within the family who spoke to our medium confirmed he threatened to burn down the family house at Back Off Benevolent in Mile 91 and killed the step mother.

But another family member who choses to be anonymous  has denied that allegation. According to him, the late Toma didn’t make such threats against the step mother, but he confirmed the deceased has been very controversial. In fact, there was a time the father was quoted to have stopped the late son from going to the house.

Upon his return from a trip, the wife narrated to the father all that happened between her and the deceased, according to neighbours around.

The neighbors around said the late Toma was lying on his bed when the father dozed off the petrol on his body and lit up a gas light which left him with severe burns and wounds almost all over his body.

The late Mohamed Toma was admitted at an emergency hospital, he was later announced dead and buried.

The Sierra Leone Police said they are pleading with the public to report the whereabouts of the father. The family blamed the police for their negligence in handling the matter.