The police have arrested 19 suspected armed robbers following series of armed robbery incidents in different locations in the north and south of the country.
Their arrest was facilitated by the Regional Commander South, AIG Kapr S. Kamara, who escorted all 19 suspects to Freetown for further investigation.
The robbers were linked to the armed robberies which occurred in the convent of the School Sisters of Notre Dame in Bumbuna on May 2, 2019, and in the Convent of the Clarissan Sisters of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mile 91 on May 16, 2019, left eight sisters with injuries.
Vicar General of Makeni Diocese, Rev. Father Bob John Hassan Koroma said said that on these two occasions, “our sisters were viciously assaulted by armed robbers at their convents in the early hours in the morning – around 1:30am”.
“Besides the physical injuries sustained by some of the sisters who were ruthlessly beaten with machetes, all of them who experienced these ugly incidents are now going through painful mental and traumatic crisis. It is shocking, brutal and disgustful for the sisters, their young novices and aspirants. The convents were looted, community and workers’ monies stolen and other valuables like computers carted way. This is not only a violation of the nuns’ privacy but of their human dignity. It’s abhorrent!” the Vicar General said.
“These are the words of one of the victims of the second attack: ‘We are no longer safe, our security is not guaranteed; we might not return to that community.”
At the moment, the Diocese said that they have no option but to stop the Sisters from resuming their activities in the parishes since they cannot carry out such services in an unsafe and insecure environment.
The Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police, Fudi Umar Karim Dabo said, told a news conference
at the police headquarters on Tuesday May 21, 2019, that the SLP have observed of recent various attacks on Catholic Missions in Bumbuna; Mile 91, Moyamba; and Lunsar on May 2, 16, and 19, respectively, by armed robbers; adding that the attacks in Mile 91 and Lunsar occurred simultaneously on May 19.
The DIG said their major concern is why are the thieves targeting members of the Catholic Mission in Sierra Leone? He assured the Catholic Mission of their safety and security.
Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of operations, Elizabeth A. Turay said that they are treating the reports very seriously and will keep members of the public abreast with the matter.
AIG in charge of Crime Services, Brima Jah said that the SLP acted on intelligence which led to the arrest of the suspects.
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