Categories: metro

Sierra Leone under curfew as prisoners on the loose

Sierra Leone under curfew as prisoners on the loose

Sierra Leone has been placed under a nationwide curfew as armed men broke into a prison, setting inmates free.

Detainees from Central Pademba Road prison in the capital city Freetown were released on Sunday morning, an official at the facility told BBC News.

Earlier on, the gunmen had attacked a major military barracks in the city.

Residents reported hearing gunshots at the barracks, which are close to the presidential residence.

After the attack, the Ministry of Information declared an immediate curfew and “strongly” recommended people across the West African country stay indoors.

President Julius Maada Bio said calm had been restored and a manhunt launched to find all of the gunmen.

However, the BBC’s Umaru Fofana, based in Freetown, reports that there is still disorder in the city.

He drove past soldiers carrying heavy weaponry in a seized police vehicle and saw others chanting that that they planned to “clean Sierra Leone”.

READ ALSO:

Expelled from the US and now in limbo in Sierra Leone
It is unclear exactly how many inmates have broken out of Central Pademba Road prison, but according to the US State Department, the facility held more than 2,000 people in 2019.

Videos shared on social media showed several people fleeing from the area of the prison.

One video appeared to show popular rapper Boss LAJ, who was imprisoned last year on robbery charges, running free.

BBC News has not been able to authenticate these videos.

The political situation in Sierra Leone has remained tense since June, when President Bio was re-elected after narrowly missing a run-off.

International observers condemned inconsistencies and a lack of transparency in the count, as well as acts of violence and intimidation.

In August, a number of soldiers were arrested and accused of plotting a coup against the president.

Eight countries in West and Central Africa are under military rule after a series of coups, including neighbouring Guinea.

The US, European Union, UK and regional block ECOWAS have released statements strongly condemning Sunday’s violence.

Sierra Leone under curfew as prisoners on the loose

Credit: BBC News

Trends Admin

Recent Posts

Relief as Israel agrees to ceasefire with Lebanon

Relief as Israel agrees to ceasefire with Lebanon    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has…

18 minutes ago

US University opens 2025 scholarships for international students

US University opens 2025 scholarships for international students Montana Technological University (Montana Tech) has opened…

14 hours ago

200,000 repentant terrorists surrender, drop arms in North East – CDS

200,000 repentant terrorists surrender, drop arms in North East – CDS The Chief of Defence…

15 hours ago

Canadian university offers funded national scholarship program for 2025

Canadian university offers funded national scholarship program for 2025 Western University has announced that applications…

15 hours ago

Israeli strikes pound central Beirut, suburbs

Israeli strikes pound central Beirut, suburbs BEIRUT: Israeli strikes pounded a densely-populated part of the Lebanese…

15 hours ago

Robbers kill two members in shoot-out with Delta police

Robbers kill two members in shoot-out with Delta police The spokesperson for the police in Delta…

16 hours ago