A nationwide curfew has been declared by the Sierra Leonean government following reports from Sierra Leone of Intense gunfire in the capital, Freetown. Sources report that the gunfire originated from the main military barracks at Wilberforce, near the president’s lodge.
Details are limited currently, but senior military sources say there was a breach in the armoury at Wilberforce. Sources say residents of the Wilberforce and Spur Road community in Freetown were awakened by sporadic gunfire at 2 a.m. on Sunday, November 26.
Sources in Freetown say prison authorities have confirmed that the Freetown Central Prison, popularly called Pademba Road Prison, has been breached and the inmates set free. Sources say the situation remains fluid.
Sierra Leonean president, Julius Maada Bio, issued a statement on the situation, urging “all Sierra Leoneans to unite” towards the collective responsibility of protecting democracy.
Narrating the events, President Bio said “in the early hours of this morning, there was a breach of security at the Military Barracks at Wilberforce in Freetown, as some unidentified individuals attacked the military armoury.
“However, they were repelled by our gallant Security Forces and calm has been restored.
“As the combined team of our Security Forces continue to root out the remnant of the fleeing renegades, a nationwide curfew has been declared and citizens are encouraged to stay indoors.”
An earlier release signed by Chernor Bah, the Minister of Information and Civic Culture, which had reported the attack, stated that the said individuals who carried out the attack had been identified and arrested.
The statement also said that the nationwide curfew was declared To enable the security forces to continue the process of apprehending suspects. It called on citizens to stay indoors.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has condemned the assault and reiterated its “zero-tolerance for unconstitutional change of government.”
