For fear of his life…Kono Journalist in hiding

Mr. Komba said prior to the flooding that had cut-off the Lebanon and Kainsay route their radio station have been engaging stakeholders on the way forward on the issue pointing that they have allowed all parties to discuss on the radio the solution on the matter. He said two days back when the city rained for over three hours his radio was also used to sensitize locals and residents in that part of the town as to what they should do when it get to the worst.
The Eastern Radio Kono manager said after it rained all night on Tuesday unto Wednesday morning 26th and 27th respectively the news about a cut-off broke out, so during his morning radio program locals were calling as to the way forward to the issue.
Mr. Amadu Komba said on the morning his reporters were on the ground collecting sound bite and pictorial evidences of the destruction by the rain which urged him to host both Civil Society members and colleague journalists on the situation.
He said to his greatest dismay he received distress calls from Kenema and Koidu from unknown people informing him about instructions allegedly from the Resident Minister East Karamoh Kabba, to arrest him for inciting the public.
The Station manager said all they were doing was to inform the public not to take the law into their hands and to also take necessary precaution especially those closer to the flooded bye-pass pointing that there are ten (10) houses badly affected by the rain within the said areas.
This news of Sahr Amadu Komba being in hiding was also confirmed by the Executive Secretary of the district Civil Society Network Momoh Gbonkor Bangura stating that, they were on air immediately after news of the cut-off was made. He said during the radio talk show they were calling on stakeholders and other players to assist locals in the affected houses with first aid and food because according to him they lost almost everything.
Mr. Bangura confirmed also that they had been receiving calls from unknown numbers threatening them for taking active role in condemning the illegal mining and that the recent cut-off had worsened the situation as youth on the other part of the town (Lebanon) had taken to the streets and damaged vehicles waiting to cross unto the city central.
He said they were using the radio to calm the youth down but the persistent calls urged them to abandon the radio station without ending the program, he confirmed.