Eleven notorious armed robbers including two ex- soldiers and a manufacturer of locally made guns have been caught by the Anti Robbery Squad of the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) and are presently at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in Freetown waiting to be charged to court.
They are Alpha Kargbo, Eddie William Kamara aka Joe Hills who were involved in the shooting at Tower Hill and attack at Collegiate Road, off Congo Cross; Ibrahim Sidi Sillah ex- Corporal 18178624 involved in the shooting at Tower Hill on 3rd December 2010 and attack at College Road, Off Congo Cross on 7th December 2010; Abdul Jalloh aka Tee eye involved in the shooting at Tower Hill and Congo Cross; Amara Sesay aka Manager involved in the shooting at Tower Hill and Congo Cross; Frank Maada Senesie involved in the shooting at Tower Hill and College Road off Congo Cross; Moses Nyandebu a manufacturer of the shot guns; Mohamed Bangura and Saccoh Kamara aka Shakur are accomplices; Nelson Komba Morque ex private SLA 18181968 invloved in aiding and abetting and Lamin Conteh involved in conspiracy with other persons unknown to attack at Tower Hill.
Ibrahim Cidi Sillah and Nelson Komba Morque were dismissed in a Court Martial after they were identified by Frank Maada Senesie and Eddie William Kamara aka Joe Hills as aiding and abetting them.
Joe Hills was a wanted man for jumping bail for murder that occurred on Gooding Drive, Goderich, while Frank Maada Senessie 21 years old is the leader of the gang.
In an exclusive interview with the Operations Officer of the Anti Robbery Squad Inspector Paul Conteh he explained that on the 19th January 2011 they decided to launch out a pro-active operations together with the Integrated Intelligence Service (IIS) to combat the increase of armed robbers.
He added while on operations, two of the armed robbers Alpha Kargbo and Joe Hills were nabbed and during interrogations linked Maada residing at Block 25 Benguema Barracks as their leader.
Inspector Conteh explained that with the help of the Military Police Maada was arrested at the Quarters of Ibrahim Cidi Sillah, and a search conducted discovered one locally made shot gun (pistol) and one SLR magazine along with 26 live rounds SLR ammunition.
He reiterated that furthering their investigations they got a tip off about the manufacturer of the locally made short guns, Moses Nyandebu a physically challenged of 55 Lumpa, Waterloo was held and search was conducted in his house where they discovered seven locally made shot guns (pistol).
The Operations Officer noted that during their investigation Amara Sesay aka Manager was arrested, his house was searched and they discovered one shot gun and ammunition.
On the 21st January 2011, he added that Nelson Komba Morque a facilitator for all the armed robbers to have weapons was arrested and on 22nd Lamin Conteh aka Boxer was also arrested as a member of their team.
The Manufacturer of the locally made guns, Moses Nyandebu who is married with five children said he repaired old hunting guns to locally made ones.
The head of the robbery squad Frank Maada said he was initiated by Joe Hills in 2010. He added that Nelson Morque taught him to use a gun. He also said he was the one who killed the lady at College Road, Off Congo Cross robbery.
According to Joe Hills, Morque taught him how to use gun at the Range, Benguema where Military firing squad are trained. He added that he bought his two guns and two boxes of cartridges in Bo city from a serving soldier. Joe Hills explained that Morque led him to the Soldier who they bought the guns from.
He further explained sometime years back he was charged to court for Murder of a security personnel at Gooding Drive but jumped bail and continued his robbery activities.
He admitted that it was there team who were causing havoc in the city.
Some of the armed robbers confessed that they were involved in the College Road off Congo Cross armed robbery, YCC Compound Tower Hill, Pipe Line off Wilkinson Road, the Lunsar and Masiaka high way robbery and Kissy Dockyard. They all made confessional statement to this press and the Police.
By Abibatu Kamara
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