Chaos erupted in the heart of Sierra Leone as gunmen launched a brazen assault on a prison, military barracks, and other key locations withing the country.
Notably, the assault launched by the gunmen left a trail of destruction, sparking panic in Siera Leone’s capital, Freetown.
As dawn broke on Sunday, November 26, 2023, the city echoed with the chilling sounds of gunfire, a symphony orchestrated by assailants identified by the government as “renegade soldiers.”
President Julius Maada Bio addressed the nation, revealing that the attack claimed the lives of twenty individuals.
“In the early hours of this morning, there was a breach of security at the Military Barracks at Wilberforce in Freetown, as some unidentified individuals attacked the military armory,” said Bio.
Gunmen, undeterred, targeted the military’s largest barracks, intensifying fears of a breakdown in order amid a surge of coups across West and Central Africa.
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Gunmen Free Inmates
Furthermore, the Pademba Road Prisons, housing over 2,000 inmates, became a battleground.
The gunmen abducted some prisoners as others were released during the violent incursion.
As security forces fought to restore calm at the Wilberforce military barracks, gunshots continued to reverberate through Freetown, underscoring the uncertainty that gripped the city.
Notably, among the casualties were 13 soldiers, three assailants, a police officer, a civilian, and a private security personnel.
Attempting to repel the attackers, the government swiftly apprehended most of their leaders with President Bio assuring the public that efforts to capture the remaining culprits were underway.
The West African nation’s President added, “The assailants were repelled by our gallant Security Forces and calm has been restored.”
Additionally, the aftermath of the assault revealed a grim reality as 1,890 inmates escaped from the Pademba Road central prison, shattering its defenses during a two-hour raid.
While some inmates later returned, the prison bore the scars of the assault, with cell doors broken open and remnants of chaos strewn across the facility.
How Inmates Were Freed
The acting director general of the Sierra Leone Correctional Service Colonel Shek Sulaiman Massaquoi recounted the assailants’ relentless attempt to breach prison defenses.
He noted that the assailants rammed the main gate with a vehicle after failed attempts with gunfire and a rocket launcher.
In the face of the crisis, the police issued a statement urging escaped inmates to return, offering rewards for information on their whereabouts or the attackers.
Freetown, gripped by fear, slowly regained a semblance of normalcy as shops and businesses reopened following a curfew reduction imposed by the government.
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“A nationwide curfew has been declared and citizens are encouraged to stay indoors. The Peace of our beloved nation is priceless,” declared Bio.
Furthermore, the fifth President of nation affirmed that his government shall continue to protect the peace and security of Sierra Leone.
Sierra Leone, scarred by a tumultuous history, faced renewed tensions since Bio’s contested re-election in June, a backdrop to anti-government protests in August 2022 that claimed lives.
The government’s assurance of control clashed with the ongoing sounds of conflict, leaving residents uncertain about the true state of affairs.
