Sierra Leone has initiated a nationwide curfew after unidentified assailants raided a prison, liberating inmates.
The Central Padema Road prison in Freetown witnessed the release of detainees by armed men on Sunday morning, as confirmed by a facility official speaking to BBC News.
Earlier, the armed individuals targeted a military barracks situated near the presidential residence, prompting gunfire as reported by local residents.
Following this incident, the Ministry of Information swiftly implemented a widespread curfew, urging citizens throughout the West African nation to remain indoors.
President Julius Maada Bio assured the public that order will be restored, initiating a search to apprehend the assailants.
Nonetheless, reports from Freetown by the BBC’s Umaru Fofana indicate ongoing unrest in the city. Fofana observed soldiers wielding heavy weaponry in a commandeered police vehicle, with some expressing intentions to “clean Sierra Leone.”
President Bio, re-elected in June after narrowly avoiding a run-off, faces challenges amid the recent arrest of several soldiers accused of plotting against his government.
This unrest echoes a concerning trend in the region, where various countries in West and Central Africa have witnessed military takeovers, including neighboring Guinea.
