New casualty figures have added to the old statistics of those that have crumbled under the barrel in a two-day protest in Sierra Leone’s capital, Freetown and other parts of the country.
Staged for the recent stolen elections and the unbearably high living cost, the protest met with a heavy crackdown by state security forces who have been on the streets days before the protesters took to the streets.
Official sources have put the figure of the deceased at two while unofficial sources show a higher one with no one knowing who should be trusted.
In a press conference held at Police headquarters yesterday, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Brima Kamara informed the public that two persons were killed for which an investigation would be launched to ascertain who fired the shots.
He went on to state that 72 of the protesters are already in police custody waiting to be arraigned. The suspects will be charged under the outdated Public Order Act of 1965 which outlaws protests or processions without police clearance.
According to reliable sources, four were however shot dead in Moyeba community, Eastern Freetown and Waterloo town, 32km away from the capital city.
The inconsistency in figures means that until proper stock is taken, the exact number of fatalities remains unknown at the moment.
Freetown is trapped in an uneasy calm as the streets still see heavy police and military presence with no one knowing when they will stand down.
Shops and stalls remain locked down, and streets still remain empty. Only few vehicles, tricycles and motor cycles ply the streets of Fretown.
If taken for granted, the four fatalities will add to the 26 protesters that were allegedly killed by state security forces in August 10, 2022 for which President Julius Maada Bio will be held to account. Even if he is not aware of the killings, the law says, he ought to be aware as uneasy lies on the head that wears the crown.
Controversy over how many were killed in the 2022 protest lingered for days if not weeks, and the exact number remains in doubt.
Reliable sources also indicated that the number of civilians killed were more than 26 as those secretly extra-judicially executed by Lahai Lawrence Leema were not accounted for.
Leema, sacked Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, was implicated in a report of the Special Investigation Committee set up by President Bio to look into the August demonstrations.
The killing style which is no difference to recent ones, has shown no sign that the protest will slow down as the streets are still militarised bearing the looks of a police state.
On the other hand, the protesters still threaten to take to the streets if the fraudulent elections and the low living standards are not addressed.
Sierra Leoneans wanted to see an end to the sky-rocketing inflation and the production of a result that reflects the will of Sierra Leoneans. Where credible results could not be produced, the people opt for a re-run.
Bio, as usual, has left Sierra Leone for the US and subsequently probably to the ICC (International Criminal Court) headquarters at the Hague in Netherlands where he is expected to answer questions relating to crimes against humanity.
With their usual heavy-handedness, state security forces still appear ready for another crackdown as a manhunt has been launched for more arrests based on mere finger pointing as information filtering through the public shows that another protest might take place at any time.
As heavy-handed as they were during the protest, President Bio, in a tweet, appealed to the security forces to use reasonable and proportional force and respect the protesters’ rights.
He also called on APC politicians to work with his government so that there could be peace and tranquility in the country.
But, many took his appeal with a pinch of salt citing Bio’s unreliability with his promises. Although his PAOPA takes pride in the strapline: ‘TOK EN DO’ which means he does what he says or offers what he promises, Bio is known for failing to actualise most of his promises.
Before 2023 elections, Bio assured Sierra Leoneans that he would never kill again and that the political space had been widely opened.
The promise which signaled new hope brought many Sierra Leoneans who had otherwise wanted to go the other way.
Despite sweet promises, Bio turned out to be a big frailty as his security forces also killed protesters before, during and after elections with APC flag-bearer, Samura Kamara as key target.
Kamara narrowly escaped assassination at the APC headquarters in Freetown immediate post-election period as security forces fired live rounds and teargas canisters at the building while he and his entourage were in.
killings in any protest or otherwise means more trouble for President Bio who was recently invited by ICC’s Chief Prosecutor, Karim Kahn.
Kahn recently requested an opportunity to meet with President Bio during the UNGA (United Nations General Assembly) due to take place next week.
The ICC letter which came barely two months after Bio’s fraudulent re-election caught many by surprise particularly State House which was in a state of panic.
It also raised several debates among the public about who is really culpable and who will be handed over to the ICC.
Many Sierra Leoneans point accusing fingers at President Bio who might be held responsible for failing to take actions against those who allegedly unlawfully killed Sierra Leoneans especially during protest.
Bio bears command responsibility as he is Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.
As head of the army he has the power and authority to stop a suspected massacre of civilians where he has knowledge that such is about to happen.
Where he does not suspect any killing, he should bring to justice those responsible for the atrocities, and where either action is not taken, it is a big slap on Bio’s face.
In April, 2019, armed guards from State House shot dead dozens of inmates over what government called an attempted jail break at Sierra Leone’s main correctional centre on Pa Demba Road in Freetown.
As if playing magic with numbers, 30 inmates, according to government, were killed including a correctional officer who was on duty.
As much was given to him, much was expected from President Bio who should act as a President not only for Southeasterners but also Northwesterners.
Even if done in hypocrisy or diplomacy, Bio should have first expressed condolence relatives of inmates killed during the army shoot out and promised the nation of bringing to justice those responsible for the carnage.
Such act would have calmed down nerves or cool down troubled waters as he would be portrayed as one that cares for the safety of his people.
Bio however missed his way when he threatened that “my government will hit hard and will also hit harder,” while accusing opposition politicians of masterminding the prison protest. The hit-harder video footage has gone viral on media platforms thus implicating Bio to the highest point.
Bio also tagged APC (All People’s Congress) politicians as “terrorists” and “insurrectionists” bent on destabilising his government.
To many observers in the public and the media, the statement has adverse legal implications as it would be used one day against Bio in an international tribunal.
Bio’s statement could be compared to the one uttered by former Liberian President, Charles Taylor who said in early 1990s that “Sierra Leone will one day taste the bitterness of war.”
The ex-President made the statement following the end of Liberia’s civil war which claimed thousands of innocent lives.
Taylor accused Sierra Leone’s armed forces of fighting in his country, and that one day he would wage another war in Sierra Leone.
It came to pass as the first gunshot that marked the beginning of Sierra Leone’s civil war was heard in Bumaru in Kailahun district, Eastern Sierra Leone in March, 1991.
The former Liberian President was surprised to see himself humbled in a court with the prosecutor of the defunct Special Court for Sierra Leone referring to the statement when Taylor was arraigned.
Currently, the ex-Liberian Head of State is now serving a jail term in a UK prison, and there are doubts as to whether he would come out alive.
As killings continue unabated in Sierra Leone, will President Bio share similar fate with Taylor?