By Africa 24 news
People in Sierra Leone have been constantly been gripped by deep fear over recent reports of some gun shots in the country.
Most were woken up in fear on the early morning of Sunday after they heard the news that an army amoury was being attacked by unidentified trouble shooters.
The whole country especially the capital was put under a siege of fear as people were receiving news that Wilberforce barracks and Jui barracks were being attacked by some unidentified men.
Social media was flooded with unconfirmed photos of gunned down men in military uniforms.
While, at the same time, government’s press release by the ministry of communication and civil education, was disseminating, what it referred to as, “authentic news” to the public of what was happening in connection to the “sporadic attacks” on that somber Sunday.
Some people said the gun shots first happened at 3 a.m. on that Sunday night.
Government confirmed reports said some “leaders” who might have been behind the attacks at Wilberforce arms and ammunition storage, were arrested.
The president, Julius Maada Bio, in his nation’s address speech in relation to the distasteful events on Sunday November 26, 2023, said ongoing investigations were being carried out to hold those responsible for the attacks on the army’s arsenal to face the law.
And government claimed the Sunday saga was a security breach of peace and that had some suspects being arrested.
There were also reports that the country’s male correctional centre, Pademba Road Prison, was broken which led to a number of detainees escaped.
These combined fearsome events on Sunday’s gloomy day resulted to a panicky atmosphere among Sierra Leoneans everywhere, in the capital and in the provinces.
In Waterloo, army officers and army police could be seen mounting checkpoints along major streets in Waterloo such as the Benguema Road, a road leading to Sierra Leone Armed Forces Training Institute.
On that day, commercial motor riders and tri-cycles were stopped at most checkpoints to be checked in connection to the Wilberforce saga and prison break incidents.
While, in Waterloo, some petty traders were chased out by police officers to go home, some managed to conduct their businesses but in deep fear and panic.
A throughout-day curfew was declared by communication and civil education ministry.
The curfew was later adjusted to be in force starting from 9:00 pm to 6:00 am, and since Monday November 27, 2023 when the latest curfew was imposed it is still in place.
Currently, since social media sites are the dominant platforms where people get information, people have not stopped to believe any “unconfirmed news” seen on Whatsapp, Facebook but such information mostly turns out to be “fake news.”
On Tuesday November 28, residents in Freetown were running here and there thereby creating an “unnecessary panic” among others in the country.
An eyewitness account said he heard gun shots at Murray Town barracks on Tuesday midday. Traders parked their bundles of wares home.
Some residents around Shell old road flocked outside compounds and would sporadically run up distances in panic mood.
Shops and stores were closed in the capital and its outskirts mostly in Waterloo on Monday 27.
The Indians who seem to control the informal economy in Waterloo town could not open their shops and stores on Monday and Tuesday.
And Church Services couldn’t hold on Sunday when there was reported news of gun shots from Wilberforce barracks.
And that strange phenomenon got many affected financially and emotionally.. One Pastor Bernard who heads up a church in Waterloo at York Road explains the loss they had to accrue due to Freetown’s Wilberforce Sunday gun shots.
“We bought 500 bread and they all got spoiled. We should have had our thanksgiving service with our children but it could not hold as a result of this panicky situation,” Mr Bernard said on a Sunday gripped by fear among churchgoers and other peaceful Sierra Leoneans.