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Scores killed in Anti-government protest in Sierra Leone

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Scores killed in Anti-government protest in Sierra Leone

Scores killed in Anti-government protest in Sierra Leone

By Bodunrin Kayode

Violent anti-government protests has erupted in some parts of the West African state of Sierra Leone leading to a high level of casualties.

The violence which started on Wednesday this reporter learnt was as a result of what some of the residents regard as very harsh policies of President Julius Mada-Bio who has been midwifing the nation since 2028.

Since the country came out of the covid 19 scourge which ravaged Freetown and all the provinces, they alleged that the government did not insert enough palliatives to enable young people get out of the economic crisis the scourge brought on them.

” As a matter of fact, it’s been one problem or the other since President Mada-Bio took charge as commander in Chief but he has been trying his best to insert stability onto the polity because he is in charge of the armed forces and not the chair of the police who were the main target of these demonstrators” said a source who wished to remain anonymous in the Sierra Leone High CommissionA it in Nigeria

Vice President Mohammed Jalloh confirmed in a nation wide broadcast today that there were gruesome casualties on both sides but was unable to be specific while announcing the curfew which started 3pm Freetown time yesterday.

Eye witnesses however told this reporter through phone that the anti-government protesters and police clash started mostly in the Eastern part of the capital and resulted in the death of at least two policemen who were
murdered by the opposition mob as at Wednesday evening.

” The rioters clashed with police in the streets of the East end of the capital due to tensions over the rising cost of living especially food and fuel. It was when the vice president who is the chair of the police gave the directive for the curfew to be effective that the tension heightened.

“But the West end area up to st John and beyond were mostly peaceful as most residents were seen gathered outside their homes discussing the unfolding development before the Government slammed the curfew starting from 3pm to stop the rioters who had started destroying Government properties worth millions of Leones including buses, cars and police stations in the provincial areas.

In his national broadcast on Wednesday, Vice President Mohamed Jalloh confirmed that lives have been lost on both sides of the fracas and that it was the business of Government to keep the peace of the state.

No comment was heard from President Julius Mada-Bio even as most of the protesters on Wednesday were calling for his resignation even before the anticipated general election in ten months time.

Incidentally, Mada Bio was elected President in 2018 and has about 10 months for his first term to end.

He however has already said that registration of new voters will commence on the 3rd of September so that the program for the next general elections can be rolled out accordingly.

Eye witnesses said that the demonstrators chanted “Bio must go” as they made their way from the hinterlands through the capital, Freetown.

The people of Sierra Leone have gone through a litany of lingering woes which includes a decade long war caused mostly by tribalism, outbreak of Ebola which engulfed the entire country resulting in very high casualties and the recent outbreak of corona which resulted in the death of hundreds in the war torn country still rising from the ruins of a civil war that ended in 2002.

Scores killed in Anti-government protest in Sierra Leone

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Bandits abduct 30 villagers in Zamfara

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Bandits abduct 30 villagers in Zamfara

By: Zagazola Makama

Armed bandits have abducted 30 people during an attack on Zamfarawa village in Zugu District, Bukkuyum Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

Zagazola Makama report that the attack occurred on Oct. 7 at about 2:20 p.m., when a large number of bandits stormed the community, shooting sporadically to scare residents.

The hoodlums were said to have whisked away 30 villagers to an unknown destination.

Following the incident, security forces have intensified efforts to trace and rescue the abducted victims.
End

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Security forces rescue eight kidnapped passengers in Kogi, hunt for two others

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Security forces rescue eight kidnapped passengers in Kogi, hunt for two others

By: Zagazola Makama

Security forces in Kogi have rescued eight passengers who were abducted by gunmen along the Okene–Auchi highway on Monday.

Zagazola report that the incident occurred at about 3:48 p.m. when about 15 armed men dressed in military camouflage attacked a Toyota Hiace Hummer bus with registration number EDO UBJ 114 ZY belonging to Big Joe Ventures Ltd.

The bus, which was heading to Benin, Edo State, from Abuja, had 11 passengers on board.

During the attack, one female passenger identified as Adesuwat Bright was shot in the left shoulder, while other passengers were abducted.

Upon receiving the distress call, the Divisional Police Officer mobilised his men, including Police Mobile Force operatives and local vigilantes, to the scene.

The injured victim was rushed to CUSTECH Hospital, Okene, for treatment.

The combined security team later engaged the hoodlums in a gun duel inside the bush, forcing them to abandon eight of the victims, who were rescued unhurt.

However, the kidnappers escaped with two other passengers.

The police said a manhunt and bush combing operations are ongoing to rescue the remaining victims and apprehend the suspects.

Security forces rescue eight kidnapped passengers in Kogi, hunt for two others

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Mob kills three suspected kidnappers in Edo

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Mob kills three suspected kidnappers in Edo

By: Zagazola Makama

Three suspected kidnappers have been killed by a mob in Emu Orakwan community, Esan South-East Local Government Area of Edo State.

Sources said that the incident occurred at about 5 p.m. on Oct. 6, when hunters and farmers in the area sighted the suspects at Akabueze camp.

The suspects were said to be among those who allegedly murdered a woman identified as Mrs. Ogbona on Oct. 1.

It was gathered that upon receiving the information, villagers and farmers mobilised and descended on the suspects, inflicting severe injuries on them before the arrival of security operatives.

Army troops accompanied by police personnel, moved swiftly to the scene and met the suspects at the point of death.

They were immediately taken to the General Hospital, where they were confirmed dead.

Their remains have been deposited at Imiuwuguina Mortuary, while investigation into the incident is ongoing

Mob kills three suspected kidnappers in Edo

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