After one year…
No inquiry on Prison Massacre
By Ibrahim Alusine Kamara
On April 29th 2020, Security Guards attached to the Office of President stormed the precinct of the Male Correctional Center on Pademba Road where prisoners were allegedly attempting a break and allegedly opened fire on unarmed inmates killing at least 31 according to a report by the Sierra Leone Correctional Services.
Thursday 29th April, 2021 marked exactly one year since that ugly incident at the Pademba Road Prison which unofficial sources say claimed the lives of over a hundred and twenty (120) inmates and a Prison Officer.
The government claimed that the shooting by the State House Guards was precipitated by an alleged prison break attempt; an argument believed by many Sierra Leoneans to be totally out of place.
Even more disheartening is the fact that after one year of the incident, there has been no Independent Public Inquiry done as promised by President Bio.
Despite several calls made by Civil Society Organisations, Political Analysts, Media and other rights groups for an independent investigation to be carried out on the incident , nothing has been done by the government in that regards.
As it stands, it still remains unclear the exact number of fatalities that occurred on that fateful day as sources suggest that there could be more deaths than what has been reported.
The prison massacre, as it is now dubbed, remains one of the most barbaric acts in post war Sierra Leone committed against ordinary and defenseless citizens.
One year down the line, there has been no independent investigation to substantiate what really transpired at the prison and how many lives were lost.
Many Sierra Leoneans especially rights groups have continued to demand answers from government over the gross human rights violation and indiscriminate shooting by State Security.