By Kadijatu Bangura
FREETOWN — Tension gripped Shell New Road in the east end of Freetown yesterday after angry youths blocked major roads in protest over a corpse allegedly abandoned on the street for several days.
Residents said the decomposing body has been left lying in the open, emitting a strong, offensive odour and posing serious health and safety risks to the densely populated community.
Fed up with the neglect, the youths mounted roadblocks with sticks, stones and other objects, bringing vehicular movement to a halt in a bid to force authorities to act.
The protest action left scores of commuters stranded and disrupted normal activities in the area, as vehicles and pedestrians were unable to access the road.
According to residents, several complaints had been made to the relevant authorities but no action was taken to remove the body, prompting the youths to take to the streets.
They have appealed to the Freetown City Council, the Ministry of Health and Sanitation and the Sierra Leone Police to urgently intervene, remove the corpse and ensure a dignified burial.
Residents warned that continued exposure to the rotting corpse could trigger a public health emergency if not immediately addressed.
As of press time, efforts to get an official response from the authorities were unsuccessful.
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