By: James Kamara-Manneh
The incident of August 10th left a deep scar in the minds of Sierra Leoneans and such terroristic behaviour has warranted President Maada Bio to set-up a special investigation committee.
The committee has been mandated to examine both the immediate and the underlying causes, sources of financing, execution and consequences of the insurrection and the response of the security forces.
Several international bodies like, ECOWAS, AU, U.S. Embassy, UNHRC, and CSOs had called for speedy investigation and to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Whereas, President Bio in his nationwide address on the 12th August, 2022 acknowledged that before the incident occurs those protesters had severally identified themselves on social media as APC Warriors, PPP, and hungry politician who are tasty for political power at the detriment of other citizens.
President Bio therefore, disagreed with the false APC narrative and that of the foreign media that the civil unrest was not a protest against the high cost of living occasioned by the on-going global economic crisis.
Rather it is viewed as the action of the insurrectionists as a desperate means of violent overthrow of the democratically-elected Government.
The said unrest occurred only in the opposition strong-hold such as: Makeni, Binkolo, Magburaka, Kamakwie, Lungi, Western Rural, Eastern Freetown, and towards PZ in Freetown while other parts of the country remained calm.
The fifteen-man Special Investigating Committee will be heading by a Barrister and Solicitor, Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai, and they have been chosen across the board.
Meanwhile, family members of the six police officers who were laid to rest yesterday, innocent citizens who died in the incident, citizens whose properties were damaged are all eagerly waiting to see the outcome of the investigation and to bridging national peace and coalition.
