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 3 top executive members of a youth group that championed the violence protest in Freetown.
He said Mohamed Sesay, Francis Bangura and Peter Koroma, all of the Kissy Progressive Youth Organization were arrested and currently in police detention helping the police in their investigations, while the organization’s Public Relations Director named Alhaji Osman Kargbo, the Director Ibrahim Turay, Finance Director Mary Bangura and others are still on the run and 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 Ibrahim Turay’s and Alhaji Osman Kargbo’s relatives were found in their house at Long Bench, Jalloh Terrace in Kissy, 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 against the current President of Sierra Leone.
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 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 Long Bench, Jalloh Terrace in Kissy, which was the headquarters of the Kissy Progressive Youth Organization.
People confirmed that many relatives of members of the organization are missing and cannot be accounted for since the protest day.
