News
ECOWAS Court Fines Sierra Leone $25,000 for Violent Police Crackdown on Demonstrating Students
ECOWAS Court Fines Sierra Leone $25,000 for Violent Police Crackdown on Demonstrating Students
By: Michael Mike
The ECOWAS Court of Justice has ordered the Republic of Sierra Leone to pay $25,000 as compensation to Mohamed Morlu, a Sierra Leone citizen, for violating his fundamental human rights.
Morlu had sued the Republic of Sierra Leone after he sustained a gunshot wound during a students’ protest in March 2017, at which officers of the Sierra Leonean police force fired shots to disperse the demonstrators.
Delivering the judgment, Justice Edward Amoako Asante declared that the Respondent state violated Mr. Morlu’s right to security of the person, freedom from torture, the right to an effective remedy contrary to the provisions of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the Convention against Torture.
The Court ordered that the government must pay for any upcoming surgery needed to remove the bullet from the gunshot, which is still stuck in the Applicant’s abdomen. In addition, the Court ruled that the government must quickly investigate, find, and prosecute the officers who shot the Applicant during the student protest and take measures to properly train its law enforcement officers on crowd control.
Morlu was a student at Njala University in Bo City, Sierra Leone, in March 2017 when a four-month strike by lecturers at the University disrupted academic work. On 23 March 2017, students at the University went on a third protest march to present their grievances to the Ministry of Education. In an attempt to disperse the demonstrators, officers from the Operation Support Division (OSD) of the Sierra Leone Police Force fired shots into the crowd, injuring Morlu and other students.
Morlu was hospitalized, underwent surgery, and later sought medical treatment in Ghana due to complications from the bullet.
In its defense to the suit at the ECOWAS Court, the Respondent State asserted that the protesting students blocked roads and obstructed traffic. The police tried to contain the situation but were met with resistance from the students, some of whom pelted the police with stones. In the ensuing escalation, the police fired some warning shots, one of which accidentally injured the Applicant. The Respondent, therefore, denied that it violated Mr. Morlu’s human rights.
In the judgment, the Court rejected the Respondent’s claim that Morlu was injured accidentally, finding that the firing of live ammunition into the crowd of protesting students by the police was unjustified. The Court also upheld the Applicant’s case that he suffered torture and that the Respondent failed to provide effective redress by investigating, identifying, and prosecuting the perpetrators.
The panel of judges were Justice Edward Amoako Asante, Judge Rapporteur for the case, and Justices Gberi-Bè Ouattara and Sengu M. Koroma.
ECOWAS Court Fines Sierra Leone $25,000 for Violent Police Crackdown on Demonstrating Students
Troops Arrest Five Suspected Drug Peddlers in Adamawa
By Zagazola Makama
Troops of the Nigerian Army have arrested five suspected drug peddlers during a night patrol in Mubi South Local Government Area of Adamawa State.
Security sources said the suspects were apprehended at about 4:30 a.m. on May 3 during a routine patrol within the Mubi general area.
The sources disclosed that the arrest was made around the Fillin Ball area by troops of the 232 Battalion (Tactical).
According to the sources, the suspects were identified as Mohammed Usman, 28; Abubakar Ali, 26; Sani Usman, 28; Mohammed Kabiru Ahmed, 29; and Okasha Mohammed, 25.
They added that one of the suspects was found in possession of two live rounds of ammunition at the time of arrest.
The sources further said the suspects are currently in military custody for further investigation and possible prosecution.
Troops Arrest Five Suspected Drug Peddlers in Adamawa
Troops Rescue Two Kidnap Victims in Adamawa, Search Ongoing for Others
By Zagazola Makama
Troops of the Nigerian Army have rescued two kidnapped victims during a search-and-rescue operation in Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State.
Security sources said the operation was launched at about 4:32 a.m. on May 3 following a distress call on a kidnapping incident in the Korpallama general area.
The sources disclosed that troops of B Company, 144 Battalion, deployed in Gulak, in conjunction with members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), mobilised to the location and conducted a search operation.
According to the sources, two victims—Barnabas Apagu, 12, and Ruth Apagu, 10—were successfully rescued during the operation.
They added that two other victims, identified as Rahila Apagu, 21, and Ijandri Apagu, 19, are still unaccounted for.
The sources further said efforts are ongoing to locate and rescue the remaining victims, while security operations in the area have been intensified.
Troops Rescue Two Kidnap Victims in Adamawa, Search Ongoing for Others
Military Air Interdiction Destroys Terrorist Stronghold in Marte Axis
By Zagazola Makama
The Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai have successful execution of an air interdiction mission targeting a террорист stronghold in the Tumbuns general area of Borno State.
Sources disclosed that the operation was carried out in the early hours of May 1 at about 5:35 a.m. by coordinated air assets with additional support from military drones platforms for battle damage assessment.
According to the source, the mission followed credible intelligence indicating significant terrorist activity around the Metele and Dogon Chukwu axis, including the presence of fortified structures and extensive trench systems.
The sources further revealed that confirmatory intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) conducted a day earlier identified an island location with prominent structures believed to serve as storage facilities, as well as multiple defensive trenches.
“During the mission, over 20 insurgents were observed within the targeted structures. All identified targets were subsequently engaged in successive passes using precision-guided munitions,” the sources said.
He noted that the strikes resulted in the neutralisation of several terrorists elements and the destruction of their logistics bases and operational infrastructure.
Military Air Interdiction Destroys Terrorist Stronghold in Marte Axis
Air Strikes Eliminate ISWAP Shura Council Members, Foreign fighter wounded in Major Blow to Insurgent Leadership
Troops Arrest Five Suspected Drug Peddlers in Adamawa
Troops Rescue Two Kidnap Victims in Adamawa, Search Ongoing for Others
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