There have been reports of an attack on former Vice President, Chief Samuel Sam -Sumana, in his Eastern district home town of Kono over the weekend by unknown persons believed to be political thugs.
Reports say the former vice president of Sierra Leone and 2018 Coalition for Change (C4C) flagbearer had gone to Koidu town, where the attack took place on a funeral ceremony of PC Konkonba.
According to an eye witness, one of the bodyguards of Mr. Sam Sumana sustained serious injuries during the scuffle when he attempted to block the attackers who almost descended to stab his Boss with a knife.
The cause that led to the attack is still scanty, but unconfirmed reports are pointing accusing fingers on some Kono politicians who they say had hired thugs to embarrass the former Vice President.
The incident is said to have disrupted the Funeral and sent panic among residents in the district some of whom had had to take on their hills for fear of being victims of political attacks that Kono is known for.
Some suspects of the attack are said to be on the run as police open their investigation and search for those they suspected to have planned, incited and executed the attack, a police source has confirmed to Public Review.
Sam Sumana was reported to have arrived late for the funeral with a crowd of his supporters who hailed him; with few who accompanied him into the compound where the funeral rites were being observed.
’’ there were some government dignitaries in the living parlor even before the arrival of Chief Sam Sumana and by then the environment was very peaceful and quiet, the problem started when verbal arguments broke out between supporters of different political sides’’,
a source also told Public Review.
Sam Sumana is said to be a family member to the Late (Sick) Paramount Chief and that he had been at the funeral house earlier around midday before the incident.
The Vehicle of the former Vice President was badly damaged, and its side screen smashed with stones as his convoy hurriedly left the tense area.
A Release from the family of the late (sick)Chief has disassociated the family from the attack and apologized to Mr. Sumana.