Post a comment 
The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in Freetown has launched an investigation following an alleged attack on former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Michael Ambrose Sovula in Bo, which has left him hospitalised at Choithram Memorial Hospital in Freetown.
According to family members and local sources, the incident occurred at about 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, 5 January 2026, at the Bo Police Station, where a group of youths allegedly pelted the former police chief with stones, resulting in injuries that required urgent medical attention.
Speaking to journalists during a brief engagement at the hospital, Mr. Sovula’s younger brother, David Sovula, alleged that the attack was instigated by Hon. Charles D. Abdulai, Member of Parliament for Bumpe Ngao Chiefdom. He claimed the lawmaker personally participated in the confrontation, issued death threats, and struck his brother with a mobile phone.
“He used his phone to hit my brother,” David Sovula said, adding that the family had no prior confrontation that could have provoked the incident. He denied any wrongdoing by the former IGP or his relatives.
A police source in Bo, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that officers observed Hon. Charles Abdulai throw his mobile phone, which allegedly struck Mr. Sovula in the stomach. However, the source clarified that the MP did not physically beat the former police chief. Attempts to obtain comments from Hon. Abdulai were unsuccessful as of press time.
Family members and community informants linked the alleged assault to heightened tensions following a recent Paramount Chieftaincy election in Bumpe Ngao Chiefdom. The election was won by Alfred Sovula Gbandoma II, son of the former IGP. David Sovula said the MP was dissatisfied with the outcome and subsequently filed a petition challenging the results.
Tensions reportedly escalated after charms were discovered in the community, which some residents believed were intended to poison the local water supply. The Chiefdom Imam, Brima Bassie, who allegedly discovered the charms, was reportedly attacked while cooperating with authorities before police officers intervened and rescued him.
David Sovula denied any connection between his family and the charms, insisting that the former IGP “had no reason to harm his own people.” He further accused the MP of allegedly inciting residents not to pay local taxes and questioning the legitimacy of the newly elected Paramount Chief.
The CID in Freetown has since taken over the investigation and is expected to examine medical reports, witness statements, and any available physical or video evidence to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged assault. No official statement has yet been issued by the police.
Legal experts say the inquiry will focus on identifying those involved, determining whether any public official directly participated in or incited violence, and establishing whether criminal charges are warranted.
Community leaders have appealed for calm, warning that the incident could further heighten tensions in Bumpe Ngao Chiefdom. They urged residents and political stakeholders to allow lawful processes to prevail and to refrain from violence while investigations continue.
The Sovula family has called for a full, impartial investigation and accountability for anyone found responsible.
