The Inspector General of Police, William Fayai Salleu has confirmed to the media that senior military and police officers are in custody for what he referred to as ‘an attempted coup.’Selleu made the disclosure on Tuesday 8 August 2023, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Corporation conference room, Tower Hill, Freetown.
According to the IG, the Sierra Leone Police had on 31 July this year informed the public about the way some citizens have been conducting themselves to bring the peace of the country into jeopardy.
As a result, he continued the security force has conducted a thorough investigation that led to several arrests.
“As a force, we just don’t arrest like that, but we arrest based on evidence received”, he said.
IG Sellu confirmed that they have 8 mid-level military personnel ranging from lieutenant to Major and six non – commissioned officers, all from the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces alone side two serving members of the Sierra Leone Police in custody.
One retired Chief Superintendent of Police, and two civilians are also in custody helping the police with investigation.
He said five military officers and three police officers are currently on the run.
“The SLP have further put out demand notice for five military personals of which two are middle-levels officers while the three non-commissioned officers.” IG Sallue.
IG assured the general public that the security sector is in control and everything is in perfect shape adding that the SLP have beef up border security posts across the country, therefore, the security sector is still in charge, he emphasized.
He admonished all and sundry to always keep the peace and report any intelligence of security threat to the police. “As citizens, if you suspect any strange moves in your community and its environs, try to report it to the necessary authorities. Don’t seat and say it’s not your concerns. Security threat is the concerns of every citizens,” he encouraged.
“Nobody is above the law not even me as Inspector General of Police, therefore, the SLP has the right to investigate whosoever the SLP thinks is posing threat to the security”, he said.
The police Boss however failed to disclose visible reasons that are pointers to the fact that those set of military and police officers planed, finance events or any other clandestine moves that has the potential to cause state insecurity.
