23rd February, 2021 (SALONE TIMES)
FREETOWN –A pregnant woman named Hawa Turay was left in a critical state when two cattle-rearers beat her mercilessly.
According to Hawa Turay, she was at her farm in Makrimu Village closed to Batkanu when two cattle rearers came with their cattle.
After some time, the cattle tried to enter her farm to eat up the plants but she drive them. Upon driving the cattle, the cattle-rearers said she should not drive them and if she does they will hit her with the cattle tail.
Hawa said she ignored them and continue to drive them and based on that, one of the cattle rearers told the other man to beat her with the cattle tail.
“He advanced towards me and started hitting me with the tail. I began to run and at the same time shouting for rescue until I fell with my stomach,” she explained
Hawa said her husband later came to the scene who also called for help because her condition was critical.
Her husband and one other good Samaritan came at the scene and rushed her to the nearby hospital but she was quickly referred to the Makeni Government Hospital because of her critical situation.
Sierra Leone Police investigator in Makeni Gibrilla Koroma in a telephone interviewed by this press confirmed the incident but said they have obtained statement from her and Police medical report was issued to her for further medical attention.
He said they were going to invite the alleged perpetrators while obtain statement from the witness.
Hawa’s husband, Alimany Conteh said he refused to take the law into his own hand that is why they reported the matter to the Mena Police Station in Makeni.
He also said the perpetrators carried two cutlasses while beating her wife.
Alimany said he was in the bush when he had her wife shouting from afar
“When I came to the scene I first took her to the Mabamba hospital which was very closed to us, they referred us to the Makeni Government hospital”
P.C Bai Yankay the second of LEBEISAYGAHUN Chiefdom Batkanu is also a key factor for cattle distribution in that chiefdom.
Some resident alleged he is not helping farmers to do their farming and as such the youths have threatened to leave the chiefdom for the Chief and the cattle-rearers if action is not taking by the government.
P.C Bai Yankay confirmed the incident in a telephone conversation with this press but said he was informed after two days.
He said the incident took place 18 miles from where he stays.
Information gathered by this press indicated further that the pregnant woman was admitted for three days and nothing was done by the Police but if it were the cattle owners who made report about their cattle, action should have been taken immediately.
