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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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Another Bandits group release three women in Katsina in peace deal promises

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Another Bandits group release three women in Katsina in peace deal promises

By: Zagazola Makama

Another group of repentant bandits has released three women in Katsina State as part of the ongoing peace process in the state.

The women, whose names were not immediately disclosed, were said to have been held by a notorious bandit leader, Kacalla Zailani, who controls the Maigora axis.

Community sources told Zagazola on Wednesday that Zailani freed the captives voluntarily without collecting ransom.

“He handed over the women to the mediators as a gesture of goodwill to consolidate the peace deal,” one of the sources said.

Another Bandits group release three women in Katsina in peace deal promises

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Troops kill three Boko Haram terrorists in Borno Ambush

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Troops kill three Boko Haram terrorists in Borno Ambush

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of the Nigerian Army Joint Task Force Operation HADIN KAI have killed three Boko Haram terrorists during an ambush in Borno State.

Zagazola gathered that the encounter occurred on Monday evening at Umbo Gen area, during Operation Desert Sanity IV.

According to the sources, troops in conjunction with Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) and hunters engaged the insurgents with heavy fire, forcing them to flee in disarray.

“Three terrorists were neutralised in the operation. Troops also recovered one AK-47 rifle and an Itel mobile phone,” the source said.

The sources added that no casualty was recorded on the side of the troops, and general security within the area remains calm but unpredictable.

Troops kill three Boko Haram terrorists in Borno Ambush

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Troops of operation HADIN KAI foil Boko Haram kidnap attempt in Adamawa

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Troops of operation HADIN KAI foil Boko Haram kidnap attempt in Adamawa

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai, in collaboration with Police and local Joint Task Force operatives, have foiled an attempt by suspected Boko Haram terrorists to kidnap villagers in Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

Zagazola learnt that the incident occurred at about 12:45 a.m. on Sunday when about 15 terrorists stormed Kombla in Krichinga District of Madagali.

The terrorists were said to have attempted to abduct some villagers, but were swiftly repelled after troops engaged them in a fierce gun duel.

“The swift response of the troops and supporting security elements forced the terrorists to retreat into surrounding bush paths,” the source said.

The sources added that pursuit operations were ongoing to apprehend the fleeing terrorists.

Normalcy has since returned to the area, while security presence has been strengthened to forestall further attacks.

Troops of operation HADIN KAI foil Boko Haram kidnap attempt in Adamawa

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