NIGERIANS ADVISED TO BE CALM AND LAW ABIDING AS NORMALCY GRADUALLY RETURNS TO FREETOWN AFTER DEADLY PROTESTS.
Siji Balogun
On Wednesday, 10th August, 2022 deadly anti-government protests turned violent in Sierra-Leonean capital, Freetown and Northern towns of Kamakwie and Makeni leading to the death of at least six protesters and two police officers according to AFP news agency reports.
Hundreds of persons took to the streets on Wednesday in a public display of anger over economic conditions in the country and to protest the perceived failure by the Julius Maada Wonie Bio led government to cushion the effect of rising cost of living.
Vice President Mohamed Juldeh imposed a dusk to dawn curfew, 7.00pm to 7.00pm which is still in force even as calm gradually returns. While the protesters engaged security agents with stones the Minister of Youth Bangura described the protest as act of terrorism. The Minister also fingered opposition All People’s Congress as the master mind and financiers of the protests.
The Nigerian High Commission in Freetown in a statement signed by Paul Alabi on behalf of the High Commission has described as false a viral audio which alleged Nigerian Military Officers being responsible for the death of protesters during the widespread demonstrations. The statement read in part “ Mission wishes to inform Nigerians that, the High Commission has engaged relevant host government agencies on the viral audio and investigations have commenced to unravel the perpetrators of this falsehood.”
“We urge all Nigerians across the country to maintain calm and be law abiding. In the same vein, Mission strongly advises compatriots to comply with the curfew order of 7pm to 7am daily as well as monitor local news media for information”. Alabi added.
