Sierra Leone: Police Says Gunman Killed By Military Officer Was Notorious Armed Robber And Violent Thug

By Ishmael Sallieu Koroma

 Police in Sierra Leone say that a gunman killed on Thursday afternoon in the country’s capital, Freetown by a military officer during a shooting incident on Lightfoot Boston Street,  was a ‘’notorious armed robber and a violent thug’’.

The police referred to the gunman as Foday Alieu, aka ‘Big Fish’, who is alleged to have snatched the rifle of a female officer that was deployed at the United Bank for Africa (UBA) headquarters at Charlotte Street in the Central Business District of the city and started firing at random.

Videos shared on social media show passers-by and other people on the streets running for their lives, as the gunman fired randomly.

‘’The security sector wishes to inform the general public that in the afternoon hours of Thursday 21^st September 2023, it responded to a security incident, which occurred along Lightfoot Boston Street at the Central Business District of Freetown. In the incident under reference, one Foday Alieu, aka ‘Big Fish’ (a notorious armed robber and violent thug) approached and snatched the rifle of a female officer, who was deployed at the United Bank for Africa (UBA) around the precincts of Charlotte Street, and started firing at random,’’ the Police in Sierra Leone said in a statement.

According to the police, in spite of efforts to professionally persuade the gunman, Alieu, to drop the weapon and stop his unlawful and dangerous shooting action, he continued the random gun firing spree.

‘’He was later confronted by a military officer, who also encouraged him to drop the weapon, but this proved equally futile. At this juncture, because Foday Alieu posed a legitimate threat to public safety, based on the provisions of section 16(2) of the constitution of Sierra Leone, Act No. 6 of 1991, he was shot and eventually neutralized by the brave military officer,’’ the police further added.

However, one female passer-by sustained gunshot injury on the head, according to the police, but initial report indicates that the injury is not a life threatening one.

The gunman’s body (Foday Alieu) has been taken to the country’s main central morgue at the Connaught Hospital in the capital, Freetown, whilst the injured pedestrian was escorted to a hospital.

‘’ The security sector is pleased to inform the public that the Sierra Leone Police immediately brought the situation under total control and restored normalcy. Further details will be made public as the investigations progress,’’ the security force assured citizens.

Footages of Thursday’s shoot out with the gunman have been shared on social media many, many times, with many Sierra Leoneans praising the military officer for his sheer bravery in confronting the gunman, Alieu.

Mohamed Kamara 39, a trader at King Jimmy and an eye witness, told Pan African Visions that he watched the entire incident from the top roof of a building on Lightfoot Boston Street, stating that he felt terrified and feared for his life and other passers-by, but was calmed down when the military officer gunned down the assailant.

‘’ Yes, I am happy for the military officer’s act of killing the gunman.  What he did was complete bravery. He deserves an award for saving so many lives. Had it not been for him, who knows what would have happened yesterday,’’ Kamara told PAV.

However, the police did not show or reveal the motive behind the gunman’s snatching of the rifle from the female officer.