By:Thaimu Bai Sesay
Following the sudden security breach that led to a prison break, Colonel Sheikh Sulaiman Massaquoi the acting SLCS Director General, has on Tuesday 28th November 2023 at the Government press briefing confirmed that no prisoner was killed nor shot from the prison break.
The Correctional Service Director affirmed that there was an attack at the correctional centres during the security breach that led to the escape of a total of 2,213 inmates. Out of that number, he said only 144 have returned at the Pademba Road prison including the popular rapper LAJ as at the moment.
The AG Director General of the Sierra Leone Correctional Service furthered that 16 females had also returned at their centre and 16 males had also returned at the Male Integration Centre.
“At the moment two that involved in the alledge coup had also returned and handed themselves over at the facility,” Massaquoi confirmed, as he strongly assures of working with the Sierra Leone Police and other relevant authorities to get back all the escaped inmates at their respective centres.
The Chief of Defense Staff Lavahun when making his statement at the press briefing clarified that the alleged assailants were outsiders who invaded at the Barrack, adding that they indeed succeeded in laying hands at the armory. “We were able to recover two vehicles that contained arms including three RPGs, Six Bombs and several weapons,” Chief of Defense Staff confirmed.
He alleged that most of the alleged assailants were captured as he mentioned the names of two who were bodyguards of the former President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma but however said he could not confirm whether they acted on their own or being sent by people, but assured of investigating the incident. Lavahun said that most of the alleged assailants were on the run, but assured to track them as he also encouraged all peaceful and patriotic citizens to provide any strong information that would lead to their arrest.
The IG of Police Fayia Sellu also confirmed that some of their police stations including the one at Calabatown were also attacked during the incident. He revealed that some of their weapons and as well as their security personnel were held captive by the alleged assailant. The IG alleged that some of the assailants were retired police officers and military officers while others were still serving. He said they had started getting details of some who were seen on that day. The IG continued that what they had at the moment was not exhaustive but said there were couple of names coming up in relation to the violent attacks. He identified one as Yete Yete but assured of continuing on their investigation.