Njala Town,
Komboya Chiefdom,
Bo District,
3rd December 2007.
Dear Editor,
Death of Madam Safula Thomas and Mr. Karimu Thomas Both of Talia I (One) Komboya Chiefdom-Sierra Leone.
Please permit me space in your newspaper to report on the above topic which is a serious concern to the Thomas family of Talia one Komboya Chiefdom, Bo district, Sierra Leone.
On Saturday 6th October 2007 at about 6:30 pm Madam Safula Thomas was found dead on the road near the village (Talia one) as she was returning from the farm. There was blood oozing from her jaw. The villagers felt it was an accidental death and since the deceased was a Bondo society head, the society women performed their ceremony without the interference of the men in the village. She was buried.
On Monday 5th of November 2007 at about 7:45 am. Mr. Karimu Thomas, the elder brother of late Madam Safula Thomas, was also found dead by his wife near the same village (Talia One) at a different location.
The late man’s body was only found when the wife reported her husband is missing. According to the family members, late Mr. Karimu Thomas left the village early Monday morning 5th November, to watch the bush trap and fish trap in the swamp which is about a hundred and fifty meters from the village. Late Mr. Karimu left an empty one gallon rubber under the palm tree he used to tap for palm wine. He then proceeded to the fish trap and got some fish. The late man’s body and the fish were found about thirty five meters away from the palm tree he used to tap, that is, half way between the swamp and the palm tree. The body had matchete wounds on the head, neck and a broken right hand.
This matter was reported to the police in Bo Town and the body was brought to the government hospital for postmortem examination. The Thomas family have since tried to get the doctor’s report but without success. The five suspects that were arrested by the police have since been released due to lack of evidence according to the police investigating the case.
The police investigating team said they are handicapped since they do not have the logistics to help them continue to investigate the matter. At one point the Thomas family
had to provide fuel for the investigating team to visit the crime scene. With this kind of development the Thomas family is expressing fear and doubt that this matter may die a natural death. We want to tell the Sierra Leone government and the nation as a whole that we the members of the Thomas family of Talia one, Komboya Chiefdom, Bo District, Southern Sierra Leone do not feel safe and we are living in fear for our lives. We are therefore asking our government to pursue this matter for peace and security of the citizens of this nation. We want these criminals to be caught.
Enclosed is the Certificate of cause of death of late Mr. Karimu Thomas.
On behalf of the Thomas family of the above village, I shall be ready for any interview concerning this matter. Contact: 076-651361.
Yours faithfully,
James Thomas,
For Thomas family.
Photo: Inspector General of Police Brima Acha Kamara.
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