August 11, (THEWILL) – Sierra Leone declared a nationwide curfew Wednesday, following a massive protest in the West African country.
Vice President Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, made the announcement on a television broadcast, saying it is a measure to calm down the situation and return the country to normalcy.
“These unscrupulous individuals have embarked on a violent and unauthorised protest, which has led to the loss of lives of innocent Sierra Leoneans including security personnel.
“The government hereby declares a nationwide curfew,” he said. “The security sector has been authorised to fully enforce this directive”, said Vice-President Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh in a video address.
Although, Vice President Jalloh did not specify the number of those killed in the protest, but security sources confirmed at least two police officers and a civilian were killed after a protest descended into clashes between security forces and demonstrators who were demanding the president’s resignation.
“Two police officers, a male and female, were mobbed to death by protesters at the east end of Freetown this morning”, said police spokesperson, Brima Kamara.
In addition, Reuters reported that a civilian was also killed in the violence. A hospital worker in Freetown said that dozens more had been wounded.
According to the AFP, demonstrators threw rocks and sticks at security forces, who fired tear gas in their direction.
Several protesters said the security forces had also fired live bullets. Protesters were heard chanting “Bio must go”, referring to President Julius Maada Bio, who is currently in the United Kingdom on a private visit.
In a statement, the police said it had arrested dozens of protesters.
The government has invoked the military to work alongside the police to react to the protest in the country.
On Wednesday, thousands of protesters took to the streets of the capital, Freetown and some other parts of the country, calling on the government to grapple with the issue of the economic hardship and high cost of living.
Meanwhile, the protest disrupted businesses with shops remaining closed across the capital city for fear of being attacked by protesters.
Earlier, internet observatory, NetBlocks, said Sierra Leone faced a near-total internet shutdown with national connectivity at 5% of ordinary levels.
Long-standing frustration with the government in some quarters has been exacerbated by rising prices for basic goods in the West African country, where more than half of its population of around 8 million live below the poverty line, according to the World Bank.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
