Ibrahim Turay has been declared wanted by the Sierra Leone Police for allegedly mobilizing and leading youth groups in Waterloo to engage in violent protest that led to the death of police officers and other citizens in the country.
It could be recalled that on 10th of August, 2022, citizens in the North and Western Part of Sierra Leone stormed the streets of Freetown, Western Area Rural, Makeni, and Lungi etc, demonstrating against the government for what they referred to as hardship, high cost of living and the rapid inflation the country is currently challenged with.
Before August 10th, 2022 demonstration, there were messages on social media calling for a sit at home strike by Sierra Leoneans on the 8th and 9th and to take to the streets on the 10th August, 2022, to demonstrate against the government and to inform the international community that they were tired with what was happening in the country.
The said demonstration on the 10th started peacefully as youths took to the street holding placards singing songs calling on the president to leave as they were tired with him. This continued for about four hours before police officers interrupted the process allegedly using live bullets and teargas canisters to disperse demonstrators. The situation went out of hands when two youths were shot and killed in the eastern part of Freetown in cold blood. This aggravated the situations leading to demonstrators setting ablaze vehicle tires on the road, mounting road blocks, challenging the police officers among others.
According to our sources, Ibrahim Turay was seen leading a group of demonstrators carrying injured people to safer places when they were allegedly attacked by armed police officers who wasted no time to open fire at them allegedly killing and arresting some of them who were later taken to the Jui Police Station.
Rumors of their arrest went viral, and that led other youths to attack the police station demanding the release of their brothers and sisters. Amidst the fighting at the station, Ibrahim and others managed to escape from police custody running for their lives, one of our source disclosed.
The Vice President of Sierra Leone, H.E Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh wasted no time to declare an indefinite curfew in the country and instructed the police to declare the perpetrators wanted and bring them to book.
The following day, the Sierra Leone Police (IGP) released photos of alleged perpetrators including Ibrahim Turay to the public declaring them wanted. The IGP called on the general public to report the way about of all those who masterminded the demonstration that led to the death of 6 police officers and above 20 civilians. Ibrahim Turay has also been accused of giving sensitive information to one Adebayor who lives in Holland who the police accused of being the primary reason for the insurrection.
A huge reward has been placed by the Sierra Leone Police for whoever can lead to the arrest of Ibrahim Turay.
