By Ibrahim Karim Bangura (Tanko)
Report reaching Africa24 newspaper has revealed that the Sierra Leone Police are still searching for Ibrahim Mansaray who was declared wanted four years ago in 2014 for homosexual act that is considered as a taboo both constitutionally and religiously in Sierra Leone.
Report further added that the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) has placed a sum of twenty million Leones cash for anybody who provides vital information that will lead to the arrest of Ibrahim Mansaray.
Ibrahim was allegedly caught in an act of homosexuality in a rest room with a colleague named Thomas but closely runaway through the window at the Ahmadiyya Muslim Secondary School, Kono in the Eastern region of Sierra Leone on the 20th April, 2014, even though he was later arrested by the police and put in custody for six (6) months at the Sierra Leone Correctional Service SLCS (Prison). Nevertheless, Ibrahim managed to escape due to massive riot in jail that led to a prison break and he was declared wanted.
“We are engaging the general public to provide the police with vibrant information that will lead to his arrest. His warrant of arrest number is: CID, HQ.449/2014,” says, Assistant Commissioner Brima Kamara.
Sierra Leone is among countries where practicing homosexuality is highly illegal. Though, intelligences say the SLP is seriously worried about same-sex activities in the country and are working diligently to bring the criminals to book.
Speaking to his father (Pa Abu Mansaray), who has moved to Lungi for his wellbeing, they have not seen their son Ibrahim Mansaray since he was declared wanted by the Sierra Leone Police. He said that it is tough for him to establish whether his son is dead or alive. “Homosexuality is a taboo in our family mainly because his father is a Spiritual Leader and Chairman Councils of Imam in Kono District and the public always have their judgments on us. Ibrahim has dragged our family name to the mud,” he stated.
His senior sister, Adama Mansaray, rejected him the moment the sad story about her brother was making rounds on the social media, newspapers, radios, televisions and every corner of Freetown. She has promised to collaborate with the police in ensuring that his brother faces the full force of the law even if it involves life imprisonment…
However, the Inter Religious Council of Sierra Leone (IRCSL) together with traditional leaders have stated their strict position that homosexuality should never be accepted in Sierra Leone mainly because it is ungodly attitude. And they are calling on the Government to implement laws against same-sex activities in Sierra Leone at least to debar the bad practices not to spillover in other communities.