Waves of the 10th August 2023 alleged insurrection continue to haunt specific communities in Sierra Leone, coupled with the run-up to the first anniversary of the 26th November 2023 attempted coup incidence.

State security forces are on a desperate search for several coup fugitives, as well as prisoners who were released by the former. Key fugitives and escapees were already picked up across neighbouring Republics of Liberia and Guinea. However, our report indicates that over four hundred prison escapees are still at large.

What has triggered renewed stimulus to the prospects of a successful search however gained reality when one of the key coup fugitives Sergeant 506 Mohamed Koroma was on 27th May 2024 arrested in Magbondo village in Kholifa Mabang Chiefdom, Tonkolil district by a joint team of police and military officers.

As of this event of May 2024, targeted residents across the north and west of Sierra Leone; mostly noted for their inclination to public disturbances against the current administration, had intermittently woken up to cordon and search in the continuing raids.

On 28th October 2024, the neighbourhood at Free Gospel Street, Kamasondo, Lungi, north of Sierra Leone expressed concerns over persistent visits of political party thugs to targeting residences in the vicinity. In these circumstances, police had remained helpless and apparently indifferent. Witnesses have also intimated that an unknown assailant was later picked up at the Lungi Barracks in the same vicinity.

Guinean and Sierra Leonean security forces in June 2024 also arrested five fugitives, mostly Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) officers in that neighbouring republic.

While these arrests continue to be made, two court regimes; the civil court and a military court martial are currently adjudicating several civilians and military personnel for their involvements in the 10th August 2023 insurrection and the November 2024 attempted coup.

Some suspects however arrested in these continued raids have not received charges and relatives have not been accorded access to their places of detention. According to one account, some arrests were made by party thugs of the ruling party or military personnel who did not present the specific details of the involvement of these suspects in the alleged protests. As this press continues to monitor the unfolding events, there are bleak prospects for the unlucky ones.