By Nasratu Kargbo
Following the attack on the military Armory at Wilberforce Barracks, and the subsequent mayhem that swept across the capital Freetown, Former President Ernest Bai Koroma (EBK) has in a press release condemned the attacks.
Koroma in his release dated Sunday 26th November emphasized that any action, event and pronouncements that threaten to undermine the political and social stability of the state should have no place in democracy.
He stated “While it is imperative to restore law and order, I urge for calm and for all stakeholders to continue on the path of peaceful dialogue in resolving differences”.
Koroma also claimed that a military guard assigned to him by the state was killed at his Goderich residence in Freetown.
“Corporal Eddie Conteh was reportedly shot at point blank range while his colleague, Warrant Officer John Swarray was whisked away to an unknown location” a part of the release reads.
In his address to the nation on the day of the incident, President Julius Maada Bio called for national unity, stating that the ‘renegades’ have been repelled by the combined security forces and that calm had been restored.
Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah had earlier published a press release imposing immediate curfew, which was later reviewed to continue every day between the hours of 9 pm to 6am. This according to release will continue until further notice.
In their twitter account (now X) the United States Embassy in Freetown also condemned what they described as “the attempted overnight forceful seizure of Wilberforce Barracks and Armory”
The statement said such actions have no justification, and urged the government to ensure that those responsible are detained and encouraged all to adhere to government’s guidance to the curfew
The West African bloc ECOWAS in a statement condemned the act and called for the arrest and prosecution of all participants in the illegal act.
“ECOWAS reiterates its zero-tolerance for unconstitutional change of government” a part of the statement reads.
It is understood that heavy gun fire started at around 1: 00 a.m. Sunday at Wilberforce Barracks, which is also known as Five Battalion where soldiers on guard of the military armory were attacked by then unknown individuals.
Following the attack on the armory, heavy artillery shots were also overheard around the military’s headquarters- Cockerill at Wilkinson Road and Murray Town Barracks for a while. The maximum prison at Pademba Road within central Freetown was attacked, and hundreds of prisoners freed. Gun shots were later heard in several areas in the outskirts of the city such as Grafton and Jui.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (01/12/23)
