By Edrissa Jallow
British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC’s) Correspondent for Sierra Leone, Umaru Fofana, has revealed that over twenty-five civilians killed on Wednesday, 10th August 2022’s deadly protest will be laid to rest on Monday 17th October 2022. However, mourning families have been denied the remains of their loved ones for proper burial.
It could be recalled as previously published on Gainako that on Wednesday 10th August 2022, the people of Sierra Leone came out in large numbers expressing dissatisfaction over the high cost of living. The protestors claimed that for the past four months the high cost of living has increased by up to 40 per cent. Protestors took to the streets calling for the President to resign from his position as they chanted President “Bio must go”.
The protest later turned deadly as over twenty-five civilians and six Police Officers were killed.
President Bio presided over the funeral of the six Police Officers killed during the protest a couple of weeks ago and his Government compensated them with over a hundred million leone each noted Journalist Fofana.
After presiding over their funeral, President Bio took to Twiiter to state that “today, I attended the funeral of the six courageous officers of the Sierra Leone Police who lost their lives on 10th August 2022. May their souls Rest In Peace”.
In a follow up Tweet President Bio added that “we are hopeful that their death would help to bring eternal healing to our land and end the senseless actions of the enemies of our dear country, who are eager to divide us”.
He consoled mourners with another statement praying that “the families and colleagues of the dearly departed be comforted during their time of grief. May God bless their memory. May God bless this country that we love”.
However, the decision not to return the remains of the deceased to their families has been condemned by human rights advocates and aggrevied family members.
“Sierra Leone will today [17th October 2022] bury 25 civilians killed during the 10th August protests. Their [deceased] families have been told the bodies of their loved ones will not be given to them, rather the state will lay them to rest,” Journalist Umaru Fofana disclosed.
According to Fofana, “each family will get Le 20 million (roughly $1,250), an offer that has been rejected by relatives of Hassan Dumbuya aka Evangelist Samson”.
BBC correspondent further detailed that “the cemetery hasn’t been disclosed with the families told only to converge at the central mortuary in Freetown at 1pm”.
Five days after the unfortunate incident, the fifth ECOWAS legislature converged in the Gambia on 16th August 2022 and strongly condemned the Anti-Government protest in Sierra Leone. ECOWAS Deputy Speaker, Hon Binta Camara said during her opening statement that “it was very unfortunate that lives were lost,” and has since “condemned the act to the highest level”.
