By Sorie Ibrahim Fofanah
Four Army Majors and a woman who were declared "Wanted" by Government for their alleged involvement in the 26th November 2023 failed coup attempt have been detained by the authorities in Conakry for extradition to Sierra Leone.
News of the arrests came in a Press Release from the Ministry of Information and Civic Education last evening following what the release says was a joint operation by Guinean and Sierra Leonean security forces.
Those apprehended are Major F. S. Kamara, Major Patrick Odendeh Sesay, Major Juana Kamara, and Major I. Bangura and a female Fatmata Koroma.
"All five individuals will be processed and transferred to Sierra Leone in the coming days, after which they will be interrogated by law enforcement authorities," the release reads in part, while the Sierra Leone government extended gratitude to their Guinean counterparts for their support.
The release goes on to thank citizens both home and abroad that it says continue to provide “useful” information for their ongoing operations to find, apprehend and bring to justice all those that they believe were responsible for the failed coup.
In the early hours of Sunday 26th November 2023, attacks were reported at several sensitive locations in Freetown, including the armoury at Wilberforce Military Barracks, Cockeril Military Headquarters and the two main prisons housing inmates who were then set free. 18 Security personnel, three of the suspected assailants and a civilian woman were killed.
27 soldiers suspected of involvement in the attempted coup were court-martialed, with one already having been sentenced to 30 years imprisonment. The trial of the others is on-going.
Twelve others are being tried for treason in relation to the same coup attempt.
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