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By Emmanuel Adeleke
Sierra Leone has been placed under a nationwide curfew after armed men broke into prisons, setting many inmates free.
It was gathered that the gunmen hit the Central Pademba Road prison in the early hours of Sunday in Freetown, the nation’s capital city.
It is unclear how many inmates are on the run but the prison reportedly held more than 2,000 people in 2019.
The incident happened about the same time Wilberforce barracks, which houses several foreign embassies, including those of China, Germany, Austria, Gambia, Lebanon and Syria was attacked, prompting a nationwide curfew.
Following the attack on Wilberforce barracks, the country’s Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah, said the nation’s security forces were able to curtail the situation before it spiraled into a monumental crisis.
“They have all been rebuffed.
“The public is assured that the government and our state security forces are in control,” Bah said.
Sierra Leone President, Julius Maada Bio, said a manhunt for the gunmen has been launched.
However, it was gathered that there is still some disorder in Freetown.
Reports say that soldiers were seen bearing heavy weaponry in a seized police vehicle, while others vowed that they planned to clean Sierra Leone.
The political scenario in Sierra Leone has been uncertain since June following Bio’ re-election. The poll had narrowly missed going into a run-off.
International observers said the vote was marred by inconsistencies, violence, intimidation and a lack of transparency.
In August, some soldiers were arrested and accused of plotting a coup against Bio.
Eight countries in West and Central Africa are currently under military rule following a series of coups.