By Janet A. Sesay
Lieutenant Colonel Shek Ahmed Sandi, Commanding Officer at Joint Provost Unit, on Thursday, 14th March, 2024, before the Judge Advocate Mark Ngegba and members of the board, testified that he was ordered by Amadu Koita Makolo to break the prison gate and set free all the prisoners, which he did because he was under gunpoint.
Led in evidence by Colonel Mohamed S. Kamara, witness Sandi informed the court that his role in the Armed Force is to support the military’s operations in terms of traffic control, insecurity, conduct investigation that lies between the Armed Force and the Sierra Leone Police, adding that he is also responsible of regulating the conduct of military personnel.
Col. Sandi furthered that on 25th November, 2023, he was at home when he received a call from Lieutenant Colonel Sannoh, the Commander-In-Charge of Operations at Murray town, at 10pm informing him that all the Joint Force Commanders should assemble at Cocekrill headquarters.
He said prior to that day he had arrested three soldiers for the offense of assault who were in being held in the Guard’s Room
He said he was also ordered that night to release the said soldiers for an operational patrol that night.
He said he was told that they should go on security patrol as there was an intelligence received that Freetown would be attacked.
He said the request was made because among the three soldiers he had arrested was also the driver of their patrol vehicle, and if he did not release the driver they would not be able to patrol.
He said the Commander, Joint Forces at Cockerill headquarters, requested to see him immediately and he ordered Major M. Conteh, Officers Commanding, to effect the release of the soldiers in custody.
Witness Col. Sandi continued that he then instructed Staff Sergeant John Conteh to join him at Cockerill headquarters.
He furthered that while at the headquarters all Joint Force Commanders and all Western Area Commanders were summoned to the meeting and the Commander of 5TH Battalion, Lieutenant Col. Yamba, the 17th (seventeenth) accused, was not present at the meeting. He continued that the Commander, Joint Forces tried calling him on the phone but could not get him and the plan they had was for all of them to move together, though they were waiting for the 17th accused to report at the headquarters.
Finally, he said when Col. Yamba was reached via phone they instructed him not to go to 5th Battalion but to immediately meet them at Cockerill headquarters.
The witness furthered that the accused then came to the Joint Forces and the Commander, Joint Forces told him in his presence and the presence of other officers that there was an intelligence that Freetown was going to be attacked that night and as Commander of the 5th Battalion he should ensure that his arms and ammunitions were protected and that he should beef up the security of his unit.
He continued that they gave instruction to him and there after the other commanders were addressed; the instructions were generic to every commander: protect the arms and ammunitions, and enhance security.
He said the Commander, Joint Forces, directed that they should provide him with armed patrol to join up with the police to conduct security patrol that night.
He added that every commander left for their unit but he stayed at the Joint Forces headquarters because he was tasked with probing the escort military personnel who were going to the police headquarters to conduct patrol.
Col. Sandi furthered that he then released a section of armed military personnel led by Major M. P. Conteh, who escorted the patrol vehicles to police headquarters.
He said while at the headquarters, Joint Forces, he received a call from one of his soldiers, Lance Corporal Yakumba, who was at Wilberforce, informing him that unknown persons had entered the barracks and started discarding the armies on duty.
He said L. C. Yakumba specifically made reference to a soldier who was on duty that was disarmed. He said he then asked Yakumba if they were firing to which he responded ‘no,’ but that they had disarmed them.
He said at this point he did not raise an alarm but drove in his private car to Wilberforce. At that time, he said the situation was normal.
Witness Sandi furthered that he called Yakumba again to confirm if what he had said was true and he told him that the people had by then moved to the arms and ammunitions store and they are trying to break the store.
He said he did not proceed further but found a way to park his vehicle and recalled Yakumba, only this time around he heard some sounds at the background which he said sounded like breaking of padlocks at the arms and ammunitions store.
He said upon hearing that sounds he immediately called Lieutenant Colonel Yamba, the 17th accused, on his phone since it was his unit to know whether he was at his office and Lt. Col. Yamba answered telling him that he was in his office.
The witness furthered that he then told Lt. Col. Yamba that he had information that unknown men were breaking into his arms and ammunitions store and if he was at his office he should move with his personal to repel the attackers. Yamba responded that he would move his men to repel the attackers.
He said, at this point the place was still quite and life was still normal at Bottom Mango.
But after a few minutes, not hearing any shots from Wilberforce especially from the office of Lt. Col. Yamba, he recalled him to tell him that he was very close to his office and could hear the sounds from that far. He requested again that he moved his personnel to repel the attackers.
He said the distance between Lt. Col. Yamba’s office and the Armed Forces, is a mere 300 meters.
The witness furthered that when he made the third call to Yamba he did not answer and at this point he called the Commander, Joint Forces, Major General Dauda Alpha, and Brigadier Idrissa Bangura, Col. Kosowa and other officers that were on patrol and informed them about what was going on at Wilberforce.
He said he then requested that the patrol team return back to Wilberforce to repel the attackers.
He said he called the Director of the Presidential Guard Force, Col. Farma and also informed the authorities concerned, who promised to be at the scene to respond.
He said after that he heard the first shot of RPG within the barracks and the sound came from the arms store.
He furthered that at that time Yakumba sent him a text on Whatsapp that the assailants were trying to leave the barracks for outside.
He said he received a call from one of the Presidential Guard Force, Captain Tejan that troops are leaving the Presidential Lodge to the scene to repel the attackers, saying he told him to remain at the scene promising that they were on their way.
He furthered that he was afraid of being found during the firing and he decided to leave the scene and return to Cockerill headquarters.
Witness Sandi continued that on his way back he realised that the whole Bottom Mango was empty and he returned to Cockerill where he laid down all the information he had gathered to Col. Kosowa.
He continued that upon their return he met other officers and brainstormed with them about what happened at Wilberforce.
He continued that while doing that they heard gunshots at Cockerill gate, adding that it was an RPG blast and other gunshots that did not happen for a long time, adding that they did not know where the gunshots were coming from.
Witness Sandi furthered that after the gunshots he told other officers that ‘they cannot be in Cockerill and cannot know where the sounds of gunshots were coming from.’
The witness furthered that he then went to the main Cockerill gate to know where the firing had come from and while he was there he saw two military vehicles that were under his unit and was able to recognise them; even though it was dark he still recognised the number.
He said the first question that came to his mind was who assigned the vehicles to officers without his command. He then made up his mind to go and check who had ordered the vehicle to be out.
He said while moving towards the vehicle he received a call from one of his staff Sergeants who gave him an update on the incident at Wilberforce, adding that while talking on his phone, he saw group of men dressed in military uniform coming down both vehicles and amongst them was Staff Sergeant Abu Dauda, the 4th accused, and Staff Sergeant Idriss Kallon, the 9th accused, both of the 15th Battalion. He continued that he did not talk to them and that they also did not talk to him because he was still on the phone.
He said in his mind he thought they were on assignment and never knew they were part of the assailants, adding that he never knew he was in the pool of enemies as he walked past them still on his phone.
He furthered that while walking somebody tapped him from the back and pointed a gun at him, which he did not resist. The person pushed him inside one of the military vehicles.
He added that while in the vehicle he recognised Koita and Kabba Dumbuya and they were dressed in plain clothes.
He said Koita demanded for his phone and he took it from him, and Captain Senessie, who is on the run, also took his other phone.
He said after a brief torture in the vehicle Koita told him that he was a high target for them but if he obeyed their instructions he would not be killed.
He said a lot of the assailants in both vehicles were not in uniform and he later recognised Retired Captain Mans Kargbo and few others.
Witness Sandi furthered that Koita spent a few minutes talking to him not to attempt to escape and if he did he would kill him. He said there were other armed men in the vehicle having weapons pointed on his head.
He said after his arrest he witnessed the arrest of other soldiers and both vehicles drove out of Cockerill without firing a shot, adding that on their way going he was between Koita and Kabba.
He said on the way Koita told him to be honest to them and he was honest to tell him that he was Commander and Col. Kosowa was the Chief of Staff.
He furthered that Koita told him that he was going to use his phone to get other commanders together.
He said they reached Murray town junction and there he heard a loud explosion followed by a brief Ak47 sound that lasted less than a minute.
He said at that point Koita alighted the vehicle and all of them went to the scene of the explosion but he was unable to see what was happening because he was warned not to escape and soldiers with guns were around him while still inside the vehicle.
He furthered that Koita later returned to the vehicle and ordered him to show him the password for his phone so he could make calls to other commanders. He told Koita that he did not remember his password.
He said Koita then ordered him to call the all the Commanders of the different Joint Units that the Presidential Guards Force was moving to their areas relieving them and they should move all of their men out of their posts. He said he told Koita that he did not know the numbers of all the Commanders, only the numbers of the Presidential Guards Force.
Witness Sandi continued that while still under pressure by Koita he called RSF Sama of 5th Battalion with a different number and he introduced himself and told him that Presidential Guards are on their way to their unit and every soldier should leave their post, but RSF Sama said they were not leaving their post until the Presidential Guards relieved them.
He continued that at this point the assailants told him to inform RSF Sama again that if they did not leave their posts they will be attacked; but he still insisted on being relieved by the Presidential Guards.
He said at that point they drove the vehicle inside Murray Town Barracks and parked them facing the JLU where the weapons are kept.
He informed the court that Koita said he would be placed in front of the road and if any firing came from the JLU he would be the first to be killed. Meanwhile the Police Force came but did not shoot since they knew him and Staff Sergeant Kallon, 9th accused, abandoned the vehicle when he realised that they will not succeed in getting the weapon.
He said he then observed heavily armed soldiers leaving JLU gate to the Murray Town Barracks having their RPGs and a few Ak47 rifles advancing towards him.
He said he still stood in the middle of the road as he was ordered by Koita and the assailants were at the corner observing.
He said as the group got closer he sensed some panic in the assailants and fortunately they also did not shoot because they also recognised him.
He said their plan was to attack the JLU and collect the ammunitions that were kept there but seeing that they did not succeed Koita ordered them to go to Pademba Road Prison.
He furthered that he was placed in the vehicle again and on their way to prison via Congo Cross Bridge they met two police vehicles and the assailants attacked them and ordered the vehicle to stop, placing the police officers under gun point and ordering them to join them, which they did.
He continued that while approaching Pademba Road Prison they saw two more police vehicles armed with weapons, which vehicle was passing along Pademba Road, knowing little that they were going to be ambushed.
He furthered that the police personnel were also attacked by the assailants and they were asked to lead the way to the prison, which they did. He said he was still at the back of the vehicle under gun point.
He said all the assailants and those captured were all clustered before the prison gate and Koita ordered that an RPG should be fired at the prison gate.
He furthered that at the prison gate Koita ordered him and the captured police officers to open the prison gate, which they did.
He said Koita then ordered that the prisoner be let out especially Retired Captain Milton who is now on the run.
He said Koita also ordered that they should break the cells of the prison.
He added that at that point he became so terrified thinking that if any soldier was around and saw him he would be killed, which led him to make up his mind to speak with Koita. He warned me not to escape and ordered me to locate which cell Captain Milton was, he said, adding that he came to know that it was Cell 11 and he quickly opened his cell, hugged him and congratulated him since they both knew each other. Captain Milton thought he was among the assailants.
He said in order to escape he told Captain Milton that he wanted to remove his uniform. He gave him five hundred thousand old leones so that the assailants that were still behind him would leave and believe now that he was part of them.
He said after he received the money, Captain Milton said he would talk to Koita and they both went to him with Milton showering a lot of praises about him to Koita. Koita agreed for him to remove the uniform and strongly warned him again not to escape.
He said Captain Milton ordered the inmates to give him some clothes and pretending that he was helping them to release the prisoners, he waited until good numbers of prisoners were gathered and moving out when he joined the prisoners without being noticed by anyone.
He said after he had escaped he used the main road to Campbell Street junction and he met a vehicle in which he saw 9th accused, Staff Sergeant Kallon, who asked him if he was trying to escape. He told him that he wanted to go but he initially stopped him from escaping. But after talking to him and offering him some money, he agreed for him to escape.
The witness continued that while running he came across the 4th accused, Staff Sergeant Abu Dauda armed with an Ak47 rifle, who also asked if he was escaping. This time he responded in the affirmative and Sergeant Dauda showed him a route to escape. He was however afraid since he was holding a gun thinking that he would shoot him from the back while running.
The witness said he then cleverly went to him and sat by him with Sergeant Dauda telling him that he was also captured and wanted to escape. He told him that they should escape, which they did.
He further that they went to Sergeant Dauda’s home where he asked him to lend him his phone for him to call his wife and other military personnel, but he refused.
He said later he succeeded in calling his family and the RSLAF officers and a vehicle was sent to collect them and they both went to Cockerill headquarters.
He said at Cockerill he introduced Sergeant Dauda as the one who helped him escape.
He said Staff Sergeant Abu Dauda followed him to his office where he gave him another NLe200 (two hundred new leones) and thanked him for helping him escape. He added that he was not happy because he had refused to give him his phone.
He said Staff Sergeant Abu Dauda said he was exhausted and wanted to sleep; a few minutes later he got a call that Staff Sergeant Abu Dauda is wanted as he was among the assailants. He was arrested and taken to the Criminal Investigations Department for investigations.