Three men arrested following a mob attack in Freetown on 25 July 2023 have been charged with buggery and are reportedly being held at Pademba Road Maximum Security Prison, while a fourth man who escaped the incident remains wanted by police.
The man, identified as Alimamy Dumbuya, reportedly escaped after a crowd attacked four men who had gathered for a party at Independence School in Helena, Freetown.
According to a friend of Dumbuya, the four men were gay and included Dumbuya’s partner, Gabriel Kamara, as well as Mohamed Jalloh and Alhaji Jalloh.
The friend said the group was partying when a crowd descended on them and physically assaulted them. All four were reportedly manhandled, with three sustaining serious injuries, while Dumbuya narrowly escaped.
The source said members of the crowd were seen assaulting the three men before officers from Ross Road Police Division intervened and took them into custody.
According to the friend, police officers told those present that the three men had been arrested for buggery but declined to provide further information.
A police officer at Ross Road Police Division, who requested anonymity because they were not authorised to speak publicly, independently confirmed that the three men were arrested on 25 July 2023 and subsequently charged with buggery.
Reports indicate that the men are currently being held at Pademba Road Maximum Security Prison. Their current detention status has not been independently confirmed by the Sierra Leone Correctional Service.
Dumbuya, who reportedly escaped during the confrontation, remains wanted by police and members of the community. A warrant has reportedly been issued for his arrest in connection with an alleged buggery offence.
The friend described Gabriel Kamara as Dumbuya’s romantic partner. The nature of the relationships between Dumbuya and the other two men was not further established.
The incident highlights the risks surrounding allegations of same-sex relationships in Sierra Leone, where buggery is a criminal offence and same-sex relationships face considerable religious and social opposition.
However, allegations of criminal conduct do not justify mob violence, physical assault or punishment outside the judicial process.
The case raises questions about the circumstances surrounding the attack, the police response and the subsequent detention of the three men. It also leaves unanswered questions about Dumbuya’s whereabouts and the circumstances surrounding the warrant reportedly issued for his arrest.
The allegations of mob violence and the reported prison detention have not been fully addressed in a public statement by the Sierra Leone Police or prison authorities. The three men’s current legal status and the circumstances of their detention remain matters requiring further clarification.
