At a press conference held on Tuesday 16th August, 2022 at the Police Headquarters in Freetown, the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Brima Jah, told journalists that they have some 141 suspects in police custody and are looking for some others that they have declared wanted persons.
He said they have released a toll-free line for citizens to help them with information about their whereabouts.
Speaking during the press briefing on the security situation in the country after the 10th August saga, AIG Jah maintained that things were under control and that people should go about their normal business, and warned that the police will come hard on people who break the law, with the intention to foment trouble and disturb the peace of the country.
It was further disclosed that among those arrested on Wednesday’s violence and in their custody, were top executive members of youth groups that championed the violent protest in Lungi Kaffu Bullom chiefdom northern Sierra Leone and in some parts of the capital city Freetown.
He said Mohamed Sesay, Francis Bangura and Peter Koroma, all from the Lungi Kaffu Bullom Progressive Youth Organization (LKBPYO), the People’s Power in Politics (PPP) and the Kissy Road Progressive Youth Organization (KRPYO) in Freetown were arrested and currently in police detention helping the police in their investigations, while the Public Relations Director of the LKBPYO, Alimamy Alking Kamara, the Director of KRPYO, Alhaji Issa Bah and the Director of PPP, Sheku Fayia and others are still on the run while police are still hunting them.
He said the police raided their houses and successfully arrested the wife of Musa Koroma and mother of Mary Bangura who were met at the houses, whiles none of Alhaji Osman Kargbo and Sheku Fayia’s relatives were found in their houses at 10 Upper Savage Square and 29 Lower Patton Street Off Kissy road in Freetown.
Also, AIG Jah said 24 juveniles: 18 young boys and 6 girls are also in police detention.
In this regard, he called on community people to help in the search to identify those on the run so that police will bring them to book. He said after completion of investigation of those in their custody, they will be charged to Court on various charges, including Riotous Conduct, Murder and attempted coup.
In a similar development, top police management board met with wives and family members of the deceased police officers killed during the violent protest and assured them of government’s commitment to take care of them, as well as directives from the President to accord the said deceased officers, civic funeral.
The police expressed sincere condolences on behalf of the IGP to the bereaved families and promised that the perpetrators will be brought to book. Meanwhile a list of the wanted persons has been posted on various police stations as well as the toll free line for information leading to their arrest.
Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio has said that the circumstances will be “fully investigated”. Youth Minister Mohamed Orman Bangura referred to the protests as an “act of terrorism”.
Reports say there have been series of secret night raids in most parts of Freetown and its environs, conducted by police and community people loyal to government, shooting and killing of relatives of protesters listed on police wanted list.
This reporter visited and spoke with community members of Kissy Road and people confirmed that many relatives of members of organizations that championed the protest are missing and cannot be accounted for since the protest day. The names, Mrs. Sia Kargbo, Mariama Sesay and Linda Sam were named among the community young women already secretly missing after the protest.
