The Sierra Leone Police (SLP) says it has arrested so far a total of 19 people in connection to the alleged attempt of subversion of the state.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) William Fayia Sellu, said on Tuesday that several other people suspected of involvement in the alleged plot were on the run and that the police was pursuing them.
The police chief, who was speaking at the government’s weekly press conference, also said that among those detained and on the run are middle level military officers and serving police officers.
Eight of those in detention are middle level military officers with ranks ranging from Lieutenant to Major, while six are non-commissioned officers, he said, adding that two are serving members of the Sierra Leone Police – a sub inspector and constable.
Two civilians are also among those detained, the IGP said.
“We have put out a manhunt for a couple of more people, and these include five military officers, two of them middle level officers, and three non-commissioned officers,” Mr Sellu told journalists at the presser convened by the Ministry of Information and Civic Education, which was hosted in the Conference Hall of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Freetown.
He added that they also are after three police officers, including a sub inspector.
The SLP first made public its investigation on the alleged plot in a statement issued last week. It didn’t indicate any specific number of people arrested or their identity at the time.
At Tuesday’s presser, IGP Sellu declined to comment on the identities of any of the suspects. But his comment followed reports in the Liberian media that a former senior officer in the Sierra Leone Police had been detained by authorities there and facing extradition on the request of the Bio administration.
According to the report by the Liberian daily FrontPageAfrica, Mohamed Yetay Yetay Turay, a former Chief Superintendent of Police, was detained by the Liberian National Police. The paper cited a relative of the alleged suspect claiming that the family had been denied the opportunity to visit him in detention.
FPA also cited unnamed sources saying the Sierra Leone government was requesting for the extradition of the suspect.
IGP Sellu didn’t mention Turay’s name, but he confirmed that as of Tuesday morning, a former Chief Superintendent of Police was in detention.
The police chief also declined to comment on the exact offence allegedly committed by the suspects, beside saying that their ultimate intention was to change the government.
Sellu said the SLP was working with its neighbours and other international partners, through the International Police Organization (Interpol) to secure the arrest of those at large. He also said that they have beefed up security at the country’s borders with its neighbours.
“No matter where you are, as long as that country is part of Interpol, we will get you,” he said.
This article was updated to rectify the number of people arrested from 14 to 19.
