Sierra Leone suspends nationwide curfew after attack on prisons, armoury

The Sierra Leonean government has suspended a nationwide indefinite curfew earlier imposed on Sunday in response to a series of attacks by armed men on prison facilities and a military armoury. President Julius Maada Bio said calm has returned while promising the attackers would be held accountable…

Sierra Leone has suspended an indefinite nationwide curfew earlier imposed on Sunday following an attack on a military barrack and prisons in Freetown, the capital.

A statement by the government of the West African country said a new night curfew will begin from 21:00 to 06:00 local time every day “until further notice”.

While addressing the nation on Sunday, President Julius Maada Bio said calm has been restored adding that most of the leaders of the armed attackers had been arrested and will be held accountable.

The Information Ministry reported attacks on prisons on Sunday that obliged the security forces to retreat. “The prisons were thus overrun” with some detainees released and others “abducted,” it said.

Sierra Leone has been going through a political crisis following elections in June this year.

In August, some military officers were arrested, accused of plotting a coup to remove president Bio.

The US, European Union, UK and regional block Ecowas have condemned the attack on prisons and military armoury in the West African country.