As if there has been a disconnect between the two main security agencies, the police is eyeing Sunday’s shooting as a coup while the army do not consider it as one.

Wilberforce Barracks where the shooting took place is just a stone throw to the Presidential Lodge, the official residence of the President and anything could happen.

The weapons involved were also heavy as mortar bombs, Rocket Propelled Grenades and other heavy artillery were used during the attacks.

Despite clear signs of what many has described as a coup, the army Chief, Lieutnant-General Peter Lavahun was not convinced as he still see their acts as mere attacks.

“The acts are mere attacks on military facilities and not a  coup,” Mr Lavahun said while responding to media interview.

The Army Chief however stated that the assailants succeeded in carting away several weapons from the ammunition dump but the overall objective was not achieved.

What the ‘overall objective’ means as stated by the army chief remains unclear. On the other hand, head of the police does not seem to be treading on Lavahun’s path.

With the eyes and ears of a seasoned detective, the police chief is considering the mutineers’ actions as a coup in the making, but were less successful owing to the heavy resistance put up by loyal troops.

At a press briefing last Wednesday, the Inspector-General of Police, William Fayia Sellu confirmed that the investigation was being carried out by the Sierra Leone Police and a ‘wanted notice’ is out, and the Police chief has assured the public that no one would be spared.

“There would be no scared cow looking at actions of the assailants who are dismissed and retired police and military officers,” the police chief told journalists.

 IG Sellu made it clear that a number of police officers were killed and others held captive with guns made away.

He said evidence was being generated by the police captives and that the police had been getting names of senior police officers including Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Alfred Karrow Kamara, a seasoned police officer that has held several command responsibilities.

AIG Kamara is among several police officers that were forced to resign owing to several security threats in the country as suspicion of collusion with criminals mounted on him.

He finally laid kits two years ago and appeared to have gone into active politicking with close links with the main opposition, All People’s Congress (APC). He alongside APC Secretary-General, Lansana Dumbuya was allegedly manhandled by presidential guards after the Makeni convention in February, 2023.

Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), Mohamed Turay popularly known as Yaetay Yaetay was also among  those on the police wanted list as he allegedly master-minded the attacks on the armoury at Wilberforce and other strategic military facilities in Sierra Leone’s capital, Freetown.

Like AIG Kamara and others, CSP Turay also held command positions in the police and was one time head of OSD (Operations Support Division), Southern Region, an armed wing of the Sierra Leone Police.

He held the position not until 2018 when he was posted at Ross Road Divisional headquarters as Assistant Operations Officer.

 The former OSD Coordinator now a wanted man showcased his military prowess in the wake of 1998 in the struggle to restore President Ahmed Tejan Kabba of the Sierra Leone People’s Paryy following his overthrow by the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC).

Other high-ranking police officers also have been declared wanted by the police with the aim of slamming treason charges in light of the surrounding circumstances in which the shooting took place.

 Sunday’s gunfire marks the second incident to be considered as a coup by police officers while others say it is not.

About two months ago, Yaetay Yaetay and others   also fell in the police net owing to treason allegations although members of the public had little trust in the police claims based on previous occurrences.

Most of the runaway prisoners were among those arrested by the police and set to be tried for treason offences although the location has been out of public view.

 Questions about the whereabouts of Yaetay Yaetay and others were being asked with answers not forthcoming, and arguments whether the coup was a real coup is something to think about.

Considering what many say acts as treason by police officers is not the first time.

The August 10, 2022 demonstrations held against an unbearably high cost of living was tagged as a coup attempt especially when protesters carried placards bearing the inscription that ‘Bio Must Go.’

Most of those arrested were nearly charged with treason not until criminal investigators and law officers came up with riot-related charges that saw protesters languishing behind bars for years.

A clear thread of controversy between the police, army and security forces was also seen in the aftermath of the August 10 demonstrations owing to different statements uttered by civilian and police authorities.

According to then Information Minister, Mohamed Rado Swarray, the demonstration was an insurrection that was orchestrated and finaced by the the main opposition, All People’s congress.

 In his address to the nation shortly after the demonstration, President Julius Maada tagged the APC as ‘a terrorist organisation,’ a move that sent several SLPP officials including then Information Minister, Lahai Lawrence Leema into a paranoic frenzy evidenced by secret killings and extra-judicial executions.

Leema was said to have ordered and sometimes individually extra-judicially executed several persons deemed as APC supporters and sympathisers especially those suspected to have taken part in the protest.

Litte wonder the he would turn down invitation by the Special investigation Committee set up to look into what caused the violence in August, 2022.

It is also no difference this time as attacks on a military facility has sparked controversy about its real nature.

The interpretation of Sunday’s shooting was no difference owing to the controversies by the civilian, police and military authorities creating big doubts as to whether the act amounted to a coup.

 Aside claims made by the army chief, Information Minister, Chernoh Bah who was speaking to the BBC minutes after the shooting said the act was a mere attack on military facilities, but yet to be established whether it reached the threshold of a coup.

He however maintained that the assailants were being repelled and calm and sanity had returned to the city.

Despite assurances of peace and stability within the state, the shooting still continued as the assailants continued to overrun major parts of the city.

Calaba Town and Jui Police Stations nearly fell in their hands before they melted into thin air with fear that they might emerge one day to launch fresh attacks.

On Sunday’s coup, the President himself held a view contrary to that of the police as he called it a mere security breach.

In his address to the nation President Bio said “in the early hours of the morning, there was a breach of security at the Military Barracks at Wilberforce in Freetown as some unidentified individuals attacked the military armoury.”

Like the Minister, the President also assured Sierra Leoneans that the assailants had been repelled by a combined team of security forces and calm had been restored.

“As the combined team of our security forces continued to route out the remnant of the fleeing renegades, a nationwide curfew and citizens are encouraged to stay indoors,” President Bio informed the nation.

In the speech from the throne, nowhere was it stated that there was a coup, but the police say otherwise. But, it is hoped that real facts would come out when the bottom of the investigation is reached devoid of any political gimmick.