Trouble at Drivers Union as Kaigbanja and 17 others in court
Investigations conducted by this newspaper have revealed that on Monday, November 5 this year, a group of young men are reported to have stormed the Freetown Central Lorry Park at Clay Factory in the east of Freetown where they are alleged to have attacked officials of the Professional Transport and General Services Enterprises, assaulted them, and stole and destroyed properties worth millions of Leones. (Photo: Hassan Conteh, victim)
One of the victims of the attack, Mr. Francis F. Jonah, who sustained wound on his head, told SEM that the thugs suddenly descended on them that fateful afternoon, close to the park gate and started pelting rocks, sticks, and bottles at them. “But for the timely intervention of the Police we would all have been dead by now”, he observed.
Two other officials who also sustained serious head injuries were Mr. Hassan Conteh, a Park Attendant and Mr. John S. Conteh, the Enterprise Financial Secretary.
John S. Conteh, the Enterprise Financial Secretary – victim
Speaking to this paper, one of the alleged attackers, Banjiru, disclosed that they were hired by the Western Regional President of the Motor Drivers and General Transport Workers Union, Mr. Sahr Renner Kaigbanja, together with the Union’s Vice National President, Mr. Abu Bakarr Kamara, the Western Regional Organizing Secretary, Mr. John P. Koroma, the Western Regional Secretary, Mr. Alusine Kombo Koroma and the Western Regional Vice President, Mr. Abdulai Ba Debma Barrie.
A source at the union office at Personage Street in Kissy maintains that they had the full support of the union’s National President, Alhaji Abu Bakarr Fofanah.
A police source told SEM that acting on an intelligence report they visited the union office where they advised Mr. Kaigbanja and others not to engage in anything that would lead to a confrontation but to adhere to the agreement made in a memorandum of understanding that they signed at State House on October 5 this year.
He observed that they were therefore very shocked when they received a report that there was a skirmish taking place at the Clay Factory.
He revealed that matter had been charged to Court where Mr. Kaigbanja and 17 others are facing charges ranging from riotous conduct, disorderly behaviour, to assault and wounding with intent.
Up to the time of going to press we could not get the reaction of Mr. Kaigbanja as he refused to grant an interview.
By Abdul Hassan Fackie
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