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ECOWAS Criticizes Attempt To Destabilize Democracy In Sierra Leone, Ringleaders Arrested

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Sierra Leone’s government declared full control on Sunday evening, following a report of an attack on a military armoury in the capital, Freetown, that sparked armed skirmishes and was described by the president as an attempt to disrupt the state.

Authorities in the English-speaking West African country, which has been in a political turmoil since June’s elections, have announced a national curfew until further notice.

President Julius Maada Bio announced late Sunday that tranquilly has been restored following what he described as an attempt to destabilise the country’s peace and stability.

“Most of the leaders have been arrested. Security operations and investigations are ongoing,” Bio said on national television, adding that the government would “ensure that those responsible are held accountable”.

An AFP journalist said calm was slowly returning to the capital by Sunday evening, but checkpoints heavily guarded by security forces remained in place.

The “government is in firm control of the security situation in Freetown, the attackers are retreating,” information minister Chernor Bah earlier told AFP.

Videos posted on social media appeared to show men in uniform under arrest in the back or beside a military pick-up truck.

Earlier in the day, witnesses told AFP they heard gunshots and explosions in the city’s Wilberforce district, where the armoury and some embassies are located.

Other witnesses reported exchanges of fire near a barracks in Murray Town district, home to the navy, and outside another military site in Freetown.

The information ministry reported attacks on prisons earlier in the day that obliged the security forces to retreat.

“The prisons were thus overrun” with some detainees released and others “abducted”, it said.

Video posted on social networks suggested numerous prisoners had escaped from the central jail.

One man who was in a group filmed on the street by an AFP correspondent said they had escaped from the prison.

The information ministry said security forces had pushed the attackers to the outskirts of Freetown, with drone video taken by AFP showing empty streets in the capital.

The situation remained unclear with the authorities making no comments on the motives or identity of the attackers.

  • ‘Like a war’

President Bio wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that the government would “continue to protect the peace and security of Sierra Leone against the forces that wish to truncate our much-cherished stability”.

“We remain resolute in our determination to protect democracy in Sierra Leone.”

Regional bloc the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which has contended with a series of coups among its members since 2020, issued a statement underlining “its zero-tolerance for unconstitutional change of government”.

Echoing language used to condemn past coup attempts, ECOWAS spoke of its “utter disgust” over a “plot by certain individuals to acquire arms and disturb the peace and constitutional order”.

The US embassy condemned on social media the bid to break into the armoury and offered continued support for those “working for a peaceful, democratic, healthy and prosperous Sierra Leone”.

The European Union’s local representation expressed concern and called for the respect of constitutional order.

Witness Susan Kargbo told AFP by telephone she was woken “by a loud sound of heavy machine gun (fire) and bombs coming from the Wilberforce barracks around 4:30 am.

“I was shocked and… the gunshots continued until this morning, it was like a war,” she said.

  • Attackers ‘repelled’

The government said those attempting to break into the armoury had been repelled but asked the public to stay at home while security operations continued.

The local representations of the UK and the European Union echoed the authorities’ advice to stay at home.

The civil aviation authority said Sierra Leone’s airspace remained open but asked airlines to reschedule their flights after the lifting of the curfew.

President Bio, who was first elected in 2018, was re-elected in June with 56.17 percent of the vote — just over the 55 percent needed to avoid a run-off.

International observers condemned inconsistencies and a lack of transparency in the count, as well as acts of violence and intimidation.

The main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) party disputed the results of the presidential, legislative and local elections on June 24 and boycotted all levels of government.

The APC and the government signed an agreement in October following talks mediated by the Commonwealth, the African Union and ECOWAS.

The APC agreed to end its boycott and begin participating in government in exchange for an end to detentions and court cases it said were politically motivated.

 

Credit: AFP

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Presidency Releases Footage To Back Claim On Maersk’s $600m Investment [VIDEO]

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The presidency, on Wednesday, released a video to back its claim on securing a $600 million investment commitment from A.P Moller-Maersk, a Danish shipping company.

The minister of industry, trade, and investment, Doris Uzoka-Anite, was informed in the video by Keith Svendsen, chairman of APM Terminals, that the corporation and its partners will invest $500 million, or half a billion dollars, in the Apapa ports.

Maersk’s subsidiary APM Terminals oversees container terminal operations and offers comprehensive inland and cargo services.

The video, which shows the minister, Svendsen, and other participants in the meeting, was uploaded on X formerly known as Twitter on February 9.

“We just finished the upgrading of Onne facility to meet world-class capabilities. So we invested over $100 million there,” Svendsen had said at the meeting.

“Our proposal is to upgrade the Apapa port facility with our partners there and invest half a billion ($500 million) in upgrading the facilities.”

In a statement on April 28, Ajuri Ngelale, special adviser to the president on media and publicity, said Nigeria secured a $600 million investment commitment from Maersk to expand existing ports infrastructure in the country.

Ngelale had said Robert Uggla, chairman of A.P Moller-Maersk, made the investment commitment during a meeting with President Bola Tinubu on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Saudi Arabia.

However, in a report by Lloyd’s List on April 29, officials of the logistics firm said no $600 million investment deal was signed with the Nigerian government.

The officials of the company, according to the publication, said such a deal does not exist.

“Maersk has been present in Nigeria for 35 years and, as a global provider of logistics services, we remain committed to develop opportunities for growth to people, the port sector and businesses locally,” the company told Lloyd’s List.

“Therefore, it is natural to have an ongoing dialogue with the administration. However, we are not able to comment on any investment talks.”

Reacting to the development on May 1,  Bayo Onanuga, special adviser on information and strategy to the president, also said no agreement was signed between the federal government and Maersk.

Citing Maersk’s statement, Onanuga said the company was unable to comment on investment talks, stressing that it did not also expressly deny that there was an investment discussion.

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14-Yr-Old Nigerian Boy Killed With Sword On London Street

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The teenager who died in Tuesday’s horrifying attack in east London has been identified by London’s Metropolitan Police, and he is Nigerian!

Fourteen-year-old Daniel Anjorin, a British-Nigerian, lost his life after he and two police officers were stabbed in an east London street attack by a guy brandishing a sword.

One male, age 36, has been taken into custody on charges of killing someone.

An injury to a 33-year-old man occurred when the suspect’s van collided with a Laing Close property, according to an official statement from the Metropolitan Police.

Subsequently, the suspect physically assaulted the victim, causing a wound to his neck.

Additionally, a 35-year-old man suffered lacerations to his arm during an assault inside a neighboring residence.

The Metropolitan Police have stated that although both victims’ injuries are serious, they are not considered to be life-threatening.

After this, the suspect proceeded to attack Anjorin.

“It is with great sadness that one of those injured in this incident… has died from his injuries,” Chief Superintendent Stuart Bell of London’s Metropolitan Police told reporters at the scene.

“He was taken to hospital after being stabbed and sadly died shortly afterwards.”

According to Buckingham Palace, King Charles III expressed disbelief at the stabbings and praised the bravery of the emergency services.

“His thoughts and prayers are with all those affected, particularly the family of the young victim who lost her life,” a spokesperson said.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said in a post on his X account that “such violence has no place on our streets.”

In an interview with LBC, Sir Mark Rowley, the Metropolitan Police commissioner, said: “The first thing to say is to the parents involved, that they lost their 14-year-old son, and that is just horrible, and it is La everyone’s worst nightmare.

“I’m sure we’re all thinking about them.”

On the other hand, Holy Family Catholic School, where the teenager’s mother works, issued a statement.

“It is with great sadness that I share with you the news of the death of the son of one of our staff members.

“Please keep Mrs. Anjorin, her husband and her other children in your prayers.”

One resident, who asked AFP not to be identified, recounted the experience of hiding behind a window while the suspect was outside her house, shouting: “Do you believe in God?” in the police.

“We were very scared and we were trying to hide and not show ourselves through the window because he was standing right next to our house and he could have seen us if he had looked up.”

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86 Rooms Where Tenants Paid N250,000 A Year Found Under Dolphin Estate Bridge [PHOTOS/VIDEO]

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The government found 86 divided rooms, measuring 10 by 10 and 12 by 10, beneath the Dolphin Estate Bridge in Ikoyi, Lagos Island, according to Tokunbo Wahab, the commissioner for environment and water resources for Lagos State.

The improvised flat beneath the bridge is reportedly rented for N250,000 annually by tenants.

Wahab, on Wednesday, posted videos along with this information On X (formerly known as Twitter)

He went on to say that all of the constructions beneath the Dolphin Estate bridge had been successfully removed by the enforcement team of the Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, including a container used for criminal activity.

Sharing videos he wrote, “A total number of 86 rooms, partitioned into 10×10 and 12×10, and a container used for different illegal activities were discovered under the Dolphin Estate Bridge.

“They have all been removed by the enforcement team of the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources”

A Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Kunle Rotimi-Akodu, further confirmed the eviction of squatters from beneath the bridge towards Dolphin Estate in Ikoyi over illegal settlement and environmental violations.

Rotimi-Akodu mentioned that 23 individuals were arrested during the eviction, which was carried out by officials of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps, popularly known as KAI on Tuesday.

He wrote, “Squatters dwelling under the bridge leading from inward Dolphin Estate, Ikoyi were evicted today Tuesday, 30th of April, 2024 by officials of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps LAGESC (aka KAI).

“These people created their illegal settlement under the bridge, thereby exposing the critical infrastructure to impending destruction. 23 persons have so far been arrested and MoE/KAI will continue to monitor the place. The law will take its course.”

He also confirmed that the bridge has hitherto housed 86 rooms, partitioned into 10×10 and 12×10 with squatters paying an average rent of N250,000 per annum.

“Continuation of the removal of abode under Dolphin bridge. 11 more persons were arrested. It is important to note that wood materials were used to construct the shelters, some occupants used gas cylinders, and some had stored fuel for their generators, these are recipes for disaster,” he added.

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