News Story

FREETOWN: MAADA GBESSAY KAI: Unruly youths of the ruling APC on Tuesday vowed to chop off the head of the SLPP Member of Parliament for Constituency 14 Kenema district, Francis Konuwa.
According to reports, the SLPP MP had to sneak out of Tongo yesterday Wednesday when irate youths of the APC Task Force regrouped and launched a full scale manhunt for him threatening to kill him and display his head. Hon. Konuwa could not talk to us when we contacted him last night.
Reports say the APC youths are furious over claims that the MP made unsavoury statements against the Vice President a few weeks ago and promised to teach him a never- to- be- forgotten lesson whenever he steps his feet in Tongo.
When news reached Tongo that Hon. Konuwa will lead the SLPP to launch the party's campaign there on Tuesday, the APC Task Force reportedly set up road blocks in and around the township to prevent him from entering there. Police moved in and dismantled the roadblocks, reports say.
Following a very successful SLPP meeting at the town field on Tuesday reports continue, Hon. Konuwa then led a rally to the party's office to close the campaign for the day and it was during this period that APC supporters went on the rampage pelting SLPP supporters with stones and other missiles.
The rally was rudely aborted as heavy fighting erupted between the two groups. Police have made several arrests.
James Balayma Samba, the APC candidate in the area admitted in an interview with New Vision that his supporters 'regrouped at their party's office' on Tuesday at the time the SLPP were moving en route to their office but could not tell who started the fight.
The Local Unit Commander, Aiah Komba could not be reached for comments but our Kenema reporter said he confirmed reports on a local radio station that APC youths set up roadblocks and described the statement ascribed to Hon. Konuwa that he made unsavoury remarks against the VP as mere allegation which should not have been the basis for violence.