News

By Chernor Alimamy Kamara

Democracy Network (DemNet), a network of civil society activists and media practitioners, as well as a Consortium of Civil Society Organisation in the country have expressed strong concerns over the November 26 shootings by unknown gunmen in the morning hours of Sunday.

DemNet condemned the disturbances in Freetown which it said was a well-orchestrated attempt to hijack the military armory in Wilberforce, although they said they still do not have clear information on the perpetrators.

By Chernor Alimamy Kamara

A State of the Media Report for 2022 published by the Media Reform Coordinating Group (MRCG) has highlighted the challenges journalists faced such as ownership and pluralism and the Public Perception and Trust in the Media.

By Prince J Musa in Kenema

The Inspector- General of Police (IGP) William Fayia Sellu has cautioned police personnel attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in the Sierra Leone Police to be professional while carrying out their duties.

He was addressing personnel at the Annual Police retreat at Albertson Hotel in Kenema from the 24^th to the 25^th of November 2023.

By Prince J Musa in Kenema 

The National Protective Area Authority (NPAA) has arrested people suspected of involvement in illegal mining. Steven B. Lahai, Ibrahim S. Nyokor, Mohamed Lahai, Lamin Sesay, Mamie Moinya ,Stubs Kamara and Juma Kelleh all residents of  Kenema have been detained by the Police.

The arrests were done by a Joint team of NPAA Personnel on the 27th November, 2023. Regional Coordinator East of NPAA, Bockarie Kowa confirmed to Politico of the arrests and that the men were being investigated.

By Nasratu Kargbo

Deputy Leader of the Opposition 1, Daniel B. Koroma has questioned the government’s ‘Feed Salone’ agenda using the Torma bum project as a yardstick. He said so much money has been spent on the rice project which he claimed is yet to yield benefit to Sierra Leoneans.  

 The MP during his debate on the bill entitled Appropriation Act 2024 said despite the monies spent on the project, “Unfortunately as we speak now, not even 50 kilo bag of rice is evidence of the project. What went wrong with the Torma bum project?”

By Prince J Musa in Kenema

Stakeholders in Kenema District have in a meeting on Monday 27^th November agreed to effect community by-laws as measures following the security breaches in Freetown leading to the release of prisoners in two correctional centres in Freetown.  

Addressing the local authorities in the district, the Resident Minister East, Gbessay Jusu Jaka Ngobeh said the recent incident on Sunday 26th November this year has put the country in a state of insecurity with hundreds of ‘hardcore’ criminals forcefully freed.

By Saio Marrah

The November 2023 Criminal Session of the High Court opened on Wednesday with no accused persons present in court for their cases to be assigned. All prisoners and those on remand fled the main correctional center at Pademba Road on Sunday 26^th when armed men attacked the facility in what the government has now designated as an attempt to stage a coup.