Attacks on police and military facilities by renegades in November, last year have put the lives of suspected assailant’s families on the knife edge.
Police raids and searches continue in various houses in Sierra Leone’s capital, Freetown with the assailants’ relatives as prime suspects as most have been arrested and detained.
Police initially released photographs of 32 wanted suspects including two women after the coup. Dozens are standing trial at a court martial and high court in Freetown.
Suspects’ families face constant harassment by the security forces and have been thrown out of police and military quarters while others are being hunted for their lives.
Mariama Lansana, wife of a senior police officer, is on the run as her husband, Chief Superintendent Mohamed Turay aka Yaetay Yaetay was alleged to have played a significant role in the coup against President Julius Maada Bio.
Her ordeal began on 27th November, 2023 when a police team arrived at her residence owing to her husband’s alleged involvement in the coup. Her husband, at that time, had gone at large after a jail break the previous night.
Mariama however narrowly escaped arrest and took refuge in a hideout at in Waterloo community 32km away from Sierra Leone’s capital, Freetown, and never returned to her house.
Since police raids and searches were ongoing, the husband of Mariama’s friend refused to keep her in their house owing to fear of police reprisals.
Situation was tough and her only option was to escape to neighbouring Guinea where she stayed shortly before she left for an unknown location.
Mariama’s husband was dismissed from the police service in May, 2020 prior to his arrest and detention.
Mohamed Turay was in neighbouring Liberia since March, 2022 after his dismissal, but situation turned for the worst when he was picked up by Liberian police officers in August, last year following a request by the Sierra Leone government.
He has been in detention since September, last year not until the November jail break made him see the light of day. At the moment, Mariama and his husband remain in hiding.