During a recent arrest operation, law enforcement officers killed Captain John Conteh, a wanted man for his role in an unsuccessful coup attempt. On Wednesday, April 17, the police found Conteh, who had been hiding at his mother’s home in Mayenkineh, Calaba Town.
Conteh made a valiant attempt to flee while being transported to the Jui Detention Center, which led to a deadly altercation with the police. Sadly, Conteh managed to take down an escorting officer and cause chaos in the process. Conteh tried to run away while being taken to the hospital, but he was shot.
To make matters more complicated, Conteh’s mother was also detained for harbouring a wanted person.
In the meantime, a sizable number of people have been arrested by the police in connection with an alleged conspiracy to jeopardize the peace and stability of the state. Several police and military officers, both active and retired, have been placed under arrest on suspicion of organizing subversive activities in the run-up to the nation’s Independence Day celebrations.
These people were arrested in several Western Area locations; some of them had previously been involved in the disturbances of the previous year. The police have promised the public that more information will be provided in their next weekly press briefings, even though they have not yet released any specifics about the arrests.
The recent events surrounding the death of Captain John Conteh and the planned subversion arrests have brought attention to the continued difficulties Sierra Leone faces in upholding law and order.
