Protest-hit Sierra Leone town placed under curfew

By Alpha Kamara

DAKAR, Senegal (AA) – Kabala town in northern Sierra Leone is under curfew Tuesday after a youth demonstration turned violent.

Sources say three people have been killed, including a policeman. Buildings have been set on fire, including offices of the ruling All Peoples’ Congress party.

An eyewitness, who did not want to be named for security reasons, told Anadolu Agency by phone that a police commander speaking on local radio said youths had applied for permission to demonstrate yesterday.

“From where I am hiding in my house, I can see a house belonging to a policeman on fire. The other policeman killed was attacked by youths in retaliation for the death of their colleagues,” she told Anadolu Agency.

The protest was called against a government decision to relocate a village that is to be built in their district but a decision to refuse permission sparked an angry demonstration.

Local unit commander Superintendent Alimamy Bangura would not confirm the deaths but confirmed his house and those of others had been set ablaze.

Now a 24-hour curfew has been instituted in the township and the military have been called to help calm the situation.

Kabala town lies a little over 300 kilometers [186 miles] from the capital Freetown and is a district rich in minerals and agriculture.