News

Charles Wonnie Bio, the eldest son of President Julius Maada Bio has been living in quarantine since he arrived from the United States over the weekend.

So has James Bio, the president’s nephew.

The measure is part of the government’s policy of an automatic quarantining of any one who arrives in Sierra Leone from a country that has recorded up to 50 confirmed cases of coronavirus.  

The 26-year-old is staying in one of the hotels identified for the purpose, according to Dr Songor Koedoyoma, the chief of the Lungi Command Centre.

By Kemo Cham

Sierra Leone is to operate under a State of Emergency effective March 24, 2020, President Julius Maada Bio declared on Tuesday, the latest measure by the government in response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Bio said in a televised statement that the move was meant to enable the government appropriately respond to the pandemic by protecting Sierra Leoneans and the economy from the effect of the global disease outbreak.

By Mohamed Jaward Nyallay

A total of 17 people have now been arrested by Police in Magburaka in connection to the disappearance of an officer.

Sergeant Nathaniel Lamin went missing during investigation of a conflict between cattle herders.

A police spokesman told Politico that the latest arrests were made on Monday. Earlier on Saturday, Superintendent Samuel Saio Conteh, the Deputy Head of Media at the Sierra Leone Police, had said 11 people were in custody in connection to the case.

By Francis H. Murray

Alie Sajah Foster, who was shot in the leg at the residence of the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, Lahai Lawrence Leema, and is one of the suspects in the shooting incidence, has been denied bail for the second time following another appearance in front of Magistrate Marke Ngegba at Magistrate Court No. 2, Pademba Road.

Foster is the first accused person in the matter between the Inspector General of Police and two others whom police accused of conspiring to murder the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs.

By Mohamed Jaward Nyallay

Police are investigating a suspected murder involving a woman allegedly beaten to death by her husband.

Santigie Koroma is accused of beaten 46-year old Abibatu Sesay, leading to her death. Family members of the deceased say the incident which happened last week Tuesday, March 17, has left them devastated.

Politico understands that the suspect, who is said to be an officer with the Sierra Leone Fire Force, has been in police custody since the incident happened in Loko Town, Wellington, in the east end of Freetown.

By Prince Musa in Kenema

In preparation to deploy at strategic locations along the country’s borders, in line with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, a contingent of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) has toured towns and villages in the Kenema District which share border with Corona-affected neighboring Liberia.

 The tour, according to officials, is part of the military’s effort to identify porous areas along the border and engage stakeholders to prevent the spillover of the virus.

By Mohamed Jaward Nyallay

A major search is underway for a police officer who went missing during operation in Tonkolili District.

Sergeant Nathaniel Lamin, who went missing since 17 March, is feared dead, a police spokesman said.

Superintendent Samuel Saio Conteh, Deputy Head of Police Media, told Politico that they had unconfirmed reports that Lamin was beaten to death.