By Saio Marrah
Lieutenant Colonel Sandi of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) has told the Court Martial trying 27 military personnel allegedly involved in the November 26 2023 attempted coup, that top military commanders received intelligence that Freetown would come under attack that night.
On Thursday, March 14, 2024, the commander of the provost unit of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces testified that on Saturday 25th 2023, the Joint Force Commander, Major General, Dauda Fred Alpha called all military commanders in Western Area to a meeting at the Cockerill Barracks informing them of the impending attack.
He said General Dauda instructed all the commanders to be alert and to ensure they protect their arms and ammunition at their various units. The witness said the Joint Force Commander also ordered a joint patrol with the Sierra Leone police that night. He said he remained at the Cockerill barracks after the meeting.
Lieutenant Colonel Sandi said while at Cockerill headquarters; he received a phone call from one of his military personnel attached to the Provost Unit at Wilberforce Barracks, informing him that unknown gunmen had disarmed military armed guards around the armoury at Wilberforce, close to the provost unit.
The witness said he had to go to Wilberforce that night to confirm the information after finding out that the unknown gunmen were busy disarming the armed guards.
Lt. Col. Sandi told the court that when he arrived at Wilberforce, he called the same personnel who earlier informed him of the arrival of the gunmen and was told that the assailants were at the armoury trying to break the locks.
The witness said he contacted the Commander of the 5 infantry battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Yamba, who is the 17th accused in the ongoing trial. He said Lt. Col. Yamba, also informed him that he had been informed that unknown gunmen were breaking the armoury and that he was preparing his men to repel the attackers.
He said when he later called Lt. Col. Yamba a second time, he did not pick up and he then heard gunshots around the armoury. The witness said at that point he decided to call all the commanders concerned including the joint force commander before he returned to the Cockerill military headquarters that the same night.
Copyright © 2024 Politico (15/03/24)
