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 suspected terrorist, recover rifle in Zamfara
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA have arrested a suspected terrorist and recovered an AK-47 rifle during a routine patrol in Gusau Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
Security sources said the arrest was made on April 3 at about 11:30 a.m. by troops of 1 Brigade Combat Team deployed at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Kurya.
The suspect was apprehended at Tungan Haki village and found in possession of one AK-47 rifle mounted with a magazine containing 13 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.
The sources disclosed that the suspect and the recovered weapon are currently in custody for further investigation and necessary action.
They added that troops have continued to intensify patrols and surveillance operations across the area to curb criminal activities.
Troops arrest suspected terrorist, recover rifle in Zamfara
IED explosion injures two security personnel during patrol in Anambra
By: Zagazola Makama
Two security personnel have been injured following the detonation of an improvised explosive device (IED) during a fighting patrol in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Security sources said the incident occurred on April 3 at about 12:30 p.m. when troops of Sector 5, Operation UDO KA, deployed at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Lilu, conducted a patrol alongside Nigeria Police personnel.
It was gathered that the team sighted the IED within the Lilu general area and attempted to destroy it.
However, the explosive device detonated during the process, injuring an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) personnel and a police officer.
The injured personnel were immediately administered first aid at the scene before being referred to a medical facility for further treatment.
Authorities said the situation has been brought under control, while operations continue in the area to ensure safety and prevent further incidents.
IED explosion injures two security personnel during patrol in Anambra
Troops neutralise two terrorists, destroy hideouts in Plateau clearance operations
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP), under Operation Wutan Daji, have neutralised two suspected terrorists and destroyed several hideouts during clearance operations in Wase Local Government Area of Plateau.
Security sources said the operations were carried out in conjunction with local vigilantes across Babangida, Adua and Bokayi villages within the Dutsen Zaki forest.
It was gathered that troops made contact with the terrorists along the Babangida–Adua road, leading to a gun battle in which two of the suspects were neutralised, while others fled with possible gunshot wounds.
No casualties were recorded among the troops, and all equipment was accounted for.
During the operation, troops recovered one locally fabricated gun, a belt containing 105 rounds of 7.62mm PKT ammunition, 30 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and a cutlass.
In a related development, troops of CSI Battalion XIV, in collaboration with 332 Artillery Regiment and vigilantes, conducted further clearance and raid operations in Dadin-Kowa and Dada villages.
The operation involved 47 soldiers and four vigilantes, supported with motorcycles, gun trucks, a Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle and an artillery gun.
The troops established a gun position and carried out fire missions on suspected terrorist locations in Madam Forest to deny them freedom of action.
Subsequent raid operations in Dadin-Kowa village led to the destruction of suspected terrorist hideouts, although no contact was made with the fleeing elements.
Troops neutralise two terrorists, destroy hideouts in Plateau clearance operations
Troops arrest suspected terrorist, recover rifle in Zamfara
Troops recover suspected rustled cattle in Plateau
Troops neutralise kidnapper, rescue victim in Enugu
Roger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
THE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
FAILED COUP IN BURKINA FASO: HOW TRAORÉ NARROWLY ESCAPED ASSASSINATION PLOT AMID FOREIGN INTERFERENCE CLAIMS
-
News2 years agoRoger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
-
Opinions4 years ago
THE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
-
News12 months agoFAILED COUP IN BURKINA FASO: HOW TRAORÉ NARROWLY ESCAPED ASSASSINATION PLOT AMID FOREIGN INTERFERENCE CLAIMS
-
News2 years agoEYN: Rev. Billi, Distortion of History, and The Living Tamarind Tree
-
Opinions4 years agoPOLICE CHARGE ROOMS, A MINTING PRESS
-
ACADEMICS2 years agoA History of Biu” (2015) and The Lingering Bura-Pabir Question (1)
-
Columns2 years agoArmy University Biu: There is certain interest, but certainly not from Borno.
-
Opinions2 years agoTinubu,Shettima: The epidemic of economic, insecurity in Nigeria
