Osman Koroma’s Disappearance Exposes Pattern Of Political Abductions In Sierra Leone

Missing Resident of Lungi, Osman Koroma dressed in APC colour

By Uzman Bah
The mysterious disappearance of Osman Koroma, a young man from Lungi in the Port Loko District, has raised fresh concerns over political intimidation and state-linked violence in Sierra Leone.
Koroma was last seen in October 2022, weeks after the deadly crackdown on the August 10 nationwide protests against worsening economic conditions. His family believes his disappearance is part of a wider campaign of enforced disappearances targeting political opponents.
According to his relatives, Koroma was an active supporter of the opposition All People’s Congress (APC) Party during the 2018 elections, a stance that allegedly made him a target of a group known locally as the “Soja Team.”
This group is reportedly linked to the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP). Family members say he endured multiple threats and survived a violent attack during a local football match, where his cousin was stabbed and he sustained a serious stomach injury.
Despite reporting the incident to the police, no arrests were made. “He was terrified. After the August 10 incident, people came to our house and destroyed everything,” a family member told reporters, requesting anonymity for safety reasons. “Osman fled for his life and never came back.” Koroma’s case reflects a troubling trend documented by international human rights organizations.
Human rights groups have been calling for urgent actions. “The government must investigate enforced disappearances and hold those responsible accountable,” said a spokesperson for the Sierra Leone Human Rights Defenders Network.
Just like other victims, Osman Koroma’s case remains inaction from the police. Families are often left to search for their loved ones without state support or legal recourse.
As Sierra Leone prepares for upcoming political contests, the growing number of disappearances and reports of political violence are drawing increased international scrutiny. The silence surrounding cases like Koroma’s only fuels suspicion and deepens public mistrust in state institutions. For now, Osman Koroma remains missing. And his family, like many others, continue to wait for answers, for justice, and for accountability.