In a shocking development, the lifeless body of Lamin Nabieu Lavalie, a 28-year-old former army officer, was discovered in the Sewa River within the Simbaru Chiefdom, Kenema District.
The Kenema Police have taken six individuals into custody for questioning as they delve into the circumstances surrounding his untimely death.
The exact sequence of events remains murky, but Lavalie’s body was located in Gawama, Simbaru Chiefdom. His father, Musa Nabieu Lavalie, residing in Gawama village, disclosed that his son had recently completed the Cadet course and had been stationed at Daru barracks for the past two months.
According to the grieving father, Lamin had expressed a desire to travel to Freetown and assured his family that he had discussed the matter with his superiors.
Tragically, Lamin’s lifeless form was discovered two days later, initially presumed to be a drowning incident by authorities. However, Sub Inspector Brima James Musa, the Media and Community Relations officer for the Kenema division, confirmed a grim turn in the investigation.
The Regional Criminal Investigation department has now launched a murder inquiry after unsettling details emerged regarding Lamin Lavalie’s demise.
Forensics at the scene uncovered disturbing evidence, including a stab wound to the neck, gouged-out eyes, and signs of torture, such as brushes found in his mouth.
The police’s diligent probe has resulted in the apprehension of six individuals who are actively cooperating with law enforcement.
The incident unfolded just two days after the initial discovery of the remains at the Sewa River’s bank near the Gendema crossing point. Unfortunately, the body had significantly decomposed by the time authorities arrived, prompting the recommendation for immediate burial with plans for exhumation later for a postmortem examination.
Staff Sergeant Abubakar Sesay, a Liaison officer from the 2 Infantry Brigade in Kenema attached to the Sierra Leone Police regional headquarters, confirmed that Lamin was stabbed at the Sewa River side at the Boajibu axis. Lamin’s military background was corroborated by his parents, who acknowledged him as a former Lieutenant soldier discharged from the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF).
The RSLAF had classified Lavalie as AWOL (Absent Without Leave), indicating his absence from duty for more than 21 days without a valid reason.
The Liaison officer reiterated that Lamin Lavalie is no longer under the jurisdiction of the RSLAF, clarifying that the military has no investigative involvement in his tragic demise.
Source: Awoko
