A popular youth within the Northern District headquarter town of Makeni city and its environs Joshua Conteh has reportedly gone missing; this medium can authoritatively confirm following the July 18, 2020 riot in that part of Sierra Leone for the removal of a power generator for onward transfer to the Lungi international airport.

Joshua Conteh this  who was residing at Conteh Street this medium gathered was among many youth that displayed stiff resistance against security forces; furthermore Joshua was an active participant and strong advocate against the ruling SLPP government of President Bio due to what he referred to as injustice meted out on those perceived as opposition members.

Makeni city is densely populated with the opposition All People’s Congress (APC) party loyalists and coincidentally it happens to be the birth place of outgone former President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma who ruled Sierra Leone for two terms and was succeeded by incumbent President Julius Maada Bio of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) after the 2018 elections run-off.

Youth in Makeni regard the decision taken by the SLPP government as an affront to move their generator to Lungi in the Northern axis of Port Loko district as they fumed this decision will obviously engulfed Makeni into total darkness and that such is not only a humiliation on their side as indigenes of Makeni, but the former president who brought constant electricity generation in hundred days to the capital city of Freetown and other provincial towns across the country after over two decade of permanent blackout.

The riotous youth who had resisted the removal of the generator to Lungi on July 18, 2020 saw a serious fracas as there was open confrontation between them and security apparatus that had gone there to calm down the protest.

At least four protesters were reportedly killed as security forces opened fire as ten sustained severe injuries and hundreds were arrested.

Those arrested were later on charged to court as the government said it was an insurrection against the state and there is every possibility that protesters they will face long term sentence behind bars.

Confirmed reports stated that prior to the deadly July 18, 2020 protest by youth in Makeni a certain police officer who had known Joshua for a very long time admonished him not to get involved in the riot as that will be disastrous. However, this medium discovered that Joshua never heeded to his advice, but was rather visibly seen on running battles with security personnel and was identified also as one of key operatives that openly confronted security forces.

During a random arrest of those who actively participated, Joshua was fortunate to have escape away from Makeni. Since that fateful day’s disorderly incident Joshua whereabouts is unknown; the said police officer who admonished Johua and many SLPP thugs who are crystally familiar with Joshua have vowed to eliminate him anytime he resurfaces in Makeni.

The SLPP government since their inception into state governance on April 4, 2018 has been extremely hostile against perceived recalcitrant opponents considered to be APC as many top brasses had faced series of open ugly humiliation and many others murdered in cold blood in isolated locations.