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Sierra Leone: Attackers Overrun Prisons, Abduct Prisoners Amid Nationwide Curfew, Government Says

17:08, 26 November 2023

Muhammad Nooh Osman

Writer/Editor

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On Sunday, the capital of Sierra Leone, Freetown, witnessed an attack on a military arsenal by unidentified assailants, leading the government to swiftly impose a nationwide curfew, as stated in an official announcement.

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A group of unidentified gunmen in Sierra Leone has overrun several prisons, including the country's central Pademba Road Prisons, the government said Sunday.

"Major detention centers including the Pademba Road Prisons were attacked earlier today and in the interest of protecting civilian lives (including of prisoners), the security forces were forced to make a tactical retreat," the country's information ministry said in a statement.

The attackers seized some prisoners and released "many others," according to the official statement, which also assured that "the government remains in control and is effectively managing the situation."

Earlier on Sunday, Sierra Leone imposed a nationwide curfew, stating its aim to apprehend offenders who attempted to break into a military armory in Sierra Leone's capital, Freetown.

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"In the early hours of Sunday November 26th 2023, some unidentified individuals attempted to break into the military armory at Wilberforce barracks [near Freetown]. They have been all rebuffed," reported the information ministry.

The citizens were advised not to leave their homes amid ongoing efforts by the security forces to apprehend the suspects. Western media quoted witnesses who heard gunfire and explosions in Freetown's Wilberforce neighborhood.

"The government and our state security forces are in control," the information ministry said in a statement earlier in the day. "To enable the security forces to continue the process of apprehending the suspects, a nationwide curfew is declared with immediate effect across the country."

The official statement did not provide further details about the identity or motives of the alleged perpetrators.