The officers, six males and two girls, had been “brutalized” and killed within the space the place the protests held on Wednesday, youth minister Mohamed Orman Bangura stated.
The protests grew violent at occasions. Graphic photos and video of battered and significantly injured protesters and a few members of safety forces might be seen on social media. Security forces had been additionally seen firing weapons at residents.
Bangura stated he couldn’t instantly affirm the variety of civilians killed or injured within the violent demonstrations.
“We are but to know the way many individuals had been injured, however I can affirm that eight cops had been killed.”
According to Reuters, at the very least 21 civilians had been killed at totally different areas within the nation. It reported that 13 folks had been shot useless in Freetown, and one other eight had been killed in Kamakwie and Makeni cities, citing hospital sources.
Vice President Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh imposed a curfew Wednesday to quell the protests.
Youth minister Bangura described the protests as an “act of terrorism.”
“Those are usually not protesters. There’s a distinction between protest and riot and acts of terrorism. Protesting is totally different from performing as a terrorist…going in opposition to the state, killing younger cops,” he stated.
“The police have made some arrests,” the minister informed CNN whereas accusing the nation’s opposition of financing the protests.
“This was effectively deliberate, calculated and financed by members of the opposition All People’s Congress. Members of the opposition paid younger folks to return to the road to take over governance,” Bangura, a member of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party stated.
“If the protest is on account of the price of dwelling, why is it not taking place in all of the strongholds of the present authorities? Why is it in Makeni that occurs to be the headquarter city of the opposition? Why is it not a nationwide strike? Out of 16 districts, why is it solely in three districts that they (the opposition) assume is their stronghold?” he requested.
CNN has reached out to the opposition get together APC for remark, however is but to listen to again.
However, Freetown Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, who is without doubt one of the main politicians in the principle opposition APC get together, has denounced the violence.
In an emotional video launched Wednesday, Aki Sawyerr pleaded for an finish to the violence and stated: “This isn’t about get together however about folks.”
The mayor added that she had been praying for peace and nationwide unity in Sierra Leone alongside the steering committee of spiritual leaders.
“Today in our metropolis… my coronary heart goes out to all who misplaced their lives and family members… those who misplaced property proper throughout the town. We all are brothers and sisters… I consider absolutely in peace and stand in opposition to violence,” she stated, talking within the native creole dialect.