Tony Ojay, a senior engineer of the Guma Valley Water Company, was yesterday beaten to death by some fire fighters of the Freetown Fire Force at the Rasmusson Street hydrant, west of the capital.
According to eyewitnesses’ accounts, engineer Ojay met the five personnel illegally siphoning water from the hydrant and cautioned them to discontinue their unlawful activity.
That caution was made when he was on his way to the Bintumani Hotel to attend a meeting, the report went on that on his return journey he still met them at the site and further cautioned them about their illegal act.
His warning was not adhered to and it was reported that the five fire fighters let loose their venom on the engineer, heaping insults after which they started beating him up.
It was during the scuffle, the report went on that a junior worker named Mohamed who was passing went to the rescue of his colleague.
He too suffered some humiliation and serious injures.
The five fire fighters continued beating up Ojay who eventually gave up the ghost.
Sources within Guma confirmed to Awoko that this ugly development started last Saturday when Ojay halted these fire fighters from getting water from the hydrant without Guma’s permission.
It was further alleged last evening that Fire Force personnel were in the habit of opening up hydrants to collect water for sale, without any reference to Guma Valley Water Company.