Police has blamed yesterday’s ill-fated killings, by its officers of two young men suspected to be armed robbers in Wellington, on a vigilante group that was formed to man the area following recent spate of armed robberies.
“I am not sure and no police has confirmed whether police was informed about the setting up of vigilante group in the area. In fact we don’t have vigilante in our community policing. What we have are community safety volunteers,” said police spokesman Assistant Superintendent of Police, Ibrahim Samura.
But Gibrilla Kamara, who identified himself as one of the vigilantes and a victim of armed robbery, said they had officially requested permission from the police post at Kaibara for what he called “clearance”.
“We were expecting the permission today (June 6) before the incident occurred,” he told Politico on the phone, insisting that they informed the police about their activity.
Honourable Ibrahim Nox Sankoh, who represents the constituency (97), said the situation was calm as at press time, but disclosed that more policemen would be needed in the area to avoid “any field day for the thieves.”
He said investigations have been initiated into the unfortunate incident that also left one person critically injured.
While they await post mortem results, residents in the Taylor Street area have stayed out on the streets protested the killings, burnt down one vehicle and blamed the police for what they claimed was “highhanded.”
