President says many of the leaders arrested after assault on navy barracks and prisons within the West African nation.
Not less than 20 individuals have been killed, together with 13 troopers, and a number of other wounded in a sequence of assaults over the weekend that focused navy barracks and prisons in Sierra Leone, in keeping with the military.
Chatting with reporters on Monday, a military spokesperson mentioned assaults throughout the capital, Freetown, on Sunday have been carried out by “renegade troopers” however had been repelled.
“We now have launched a manhunt for all those that have been concerned within the violent assault, amongst them present and retired serving troopers,” Colonel Issa Bangura mentioned.
Bangura mentioned the 20 lifeless included 13 troopers, three assailants, a police officer, a civilian and somebody working in personal safety. Eight individuals have been wounded and three arrested, he mentioned.
The Reuters information company, citing a scenario report, mentioned about 1,890 individuals held on the Pademba Highway central jail escaped the power after it was attacked. Police urged those that had escaped to return to the jail.
Reuters mentioned a correspondent noticed cell doorways pressured open or eliminated solely throughout a go to to the power on Monday, and Colonel Shek Sulaiman Massaquoi, the performing director normal of the Sierra Leone Correctional Service, mentioned attackers had rammed by way of the entrance gate of the jail in a automobile after a failed effort to interrupt by way of with a rocket launcher.
In remarks on Sunday, President Julius Maada Bio mentioned many of the leaders behind the assaults had been arrested and efforts have been underneath approach to seize the remainder.
Looking for to reassure residents, Info Minister Chernor Bah advised the general public in an announcement on Sunday: “The federal government and its state safety forces are in management.”
Few particulars have emerged relating to the id and motives of the attackers. Throughout the assault, some advised native media they have been combating to “clear up the system”.
“Sure members of the navy will not be loyal in the direction of the federal government or the president regardless of taking the oath,” Bangura mentioned.
“We wish to restore legislation and order as shortly as doable.”
