By Ishmael Sallieu Koroma
The Sierra Leone government has confirmed that Sunday’s attempted attack by unknown gun men into the military armoury at Wilberforce barracks in the capital, Freetown and other areas was an attempted failed coup by the attackers in a bid to overthrow the legitimate ruling government in the West African nation.
On Sunday, gun men tried to attack the military armoury at Wilberforce, before they headed to the Cockerill, Murray town Barracks and then attacked the country’s largest prisons-Pademba Road prison and the female correctional centres causing massive release of inmates.
‘’Sunday’s incident was a fail attempted coup. In fact the intention of these assailants was to illegally subvert and over throw the democratically elected government of this country,’’ Sierra Leone’s Information Minister, Chernoh Bah told newsmen.
He said that the attackers failed as security forces repelled them adding that those leaders of the Nov26th incident are either in police custody and some are on the run.
‘’And we trying to continue to capture them and bring them to full the force of the laws of Sierra Leone (13) military officials have so far been arrested including 1 (one) civilian all of whom are in custody,’’ Minister Bah added.
The country’s information minister added that a total number of 21 (twenty-one) people have lost their lives as a result of Sunday’s attack among them, 14(fourteen) were military officers, 3 attackers, a police officer, a correctional officer and two civilians.
Earlier on Tuesday afternoon, security forces fired gun shots around Murray Town Barracks, west of the capital, Freetown whilst trying to apprehend those responsible for the incident of November 26th which caused panic. However, the government was quick to release a statement that it is ‘’as part of on-going operations to apprehend those responsible for the incident of November 26th a few shots were fired around Murray Town Barracks vicinity’’
‘’The person of interest has been arrested and is now in custody of the security forces. Nobody was hurt in the process. We urged all citizens to be calm and continue to go about their normal business,’’ Sierra Leone’s Minister of Information and Civic Education said.
President Julius Maada Bio in a televised national address on Sunday evening praised the bravery of the country’s military saying most of the leaders of Sunday’s attack have been arrested while promising that his government will ensure that those responsible will be held accountable through due process.
‘’As your Commander in Chief, I want to assure everybody who is resident in Sierra Leone that we have overcome this challenge, and together, we will continue on the path of progress and development,’’ Bio assured.
On Monday, the country’s President received a high powered delegation from the regional block of ECOWAS and Federal republic of Nigeria following Sunday’s security breach and attack on the armoury at Wilberforce Barracks in Freetown.
The team which included Nigeria’s National security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, Nigeria’s Chief of Defense Staff, General Christopher Musa, it’s Chief of defence Military intelligence, Major General Emmanuel Udiandeye and President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray to pay a solidarity visit to the country’s president.
Sunday’s attack have been condemned by both local and international organisations including the regional body ECOWAS.
