By Chernor Alimamy Kamara
A civilian named Foday Alieu alias “Big Fish” was gunned down at the Central Business District of Freetown yesterday after he seized a gun from an Operational Support Division (OSD) female police officer deployed at United Bank of Africa and started firing at random.
A statement from the Sierra Leone Police dated 21st September 2023 described the deceased as a “notorious armed robber and violent thug.” It said that in spite of efforts to professionally persuade the “errant” Alieu to drop the weapon and stop his unlawful and dangerous shooting action, he continued the random gun firing spree.
It stated that he was later confronted by a military officer who also encouraged him to drop the weapon, but this equally proved futile.
“At this juncture, because Alieu posed a legitimate threat to public safety, based on the provisions of sections 16 (2) of the constitution of Sierra Leone, Act No. 6 of 1991, he was shot at and eventually neutralized by the brave military officer,” part of the statement reads.
The statement also noted that one female passer-by sustained gun-shot injury on the head which initial report indicates that the injury was not a life-threatening one. His remains is said to have been taken to the Morgue while the injured pedestrian was escorted to the hospital.
It stated that calm had been restored in the affected area and the public would be updated on the investigations regarding the said incident while entreating the public to go about their normal activities and refrain from all forms of lawlessness.
The Deputy Director of Strategic Communication at the Office of National Security (ONS) Abdul Karim Will in his media interview stated that the good thing from the incident is that the security forces had the capacity and alertness to respond promptly. He said that had there not been that collaboration among the security sectors, he would have gunned down many people.
He noted that taking a gun from an officer is an affront to the state and security of the country and thanked the timely intervention of the military officer who salvaged the situation.
Will pointed out that going into a confrontation with law enforcement agencies is unacceptable. He assured the public that the security sector has the capacity and commitment to put things of such matters under control as they are still gathering more information.
One of the eyewitnesses Augustine Nyaloma stated that he felt scared when he heard the gunshot as he said he had never witnessed something of gun hijacking in his life. He called on the Police and Military Officers to always know that there are bad and abnormal people passing around and that incidences of such nature are bound to happen.
He said had it not been for the reaction of the gallant soldier, so many people would have lost their lives. He also said that from the reaction of the gunman, his intention was not to kill people on the scene and that he might have a specific target. He added that if he had wanted to kill, he would have opened rapid firing and killed instantaneously since he was in possession of the gun.
He called on the Government to ensure that those traumatized are kept in a rehabilitation centre away from the public to avoid such occurrences. He also urged the government to raid all drug cartels and arrest drug users, saying no one in his right senses would have ventured to do such a thing.
Another eyewitness, Mohamed Morovia said that the issue of gun hijacking is not well known in Sierra Leone. He advised police officers holding guns to be vigilant, noting that they should not be playing when in possession of a carry on.
The late Foday Alieu was also said to be a local musician who had been convicted for various offences and spent time at the maximum Pademba Road Correctional Centre.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (22/09/23)
