The Director of the Community Relations Department, Superintendent Memunatu Bangura has disclosed in a press conference that 16 armed robbers are wanted and 34 have already been charged to court in connection with armed robberies in the country.
She told reporters at the Police Head Quarters on Tuesday, that the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) for the past days have been working assiduously with the community to unravel some of these robberies.
The Director stated that for the armed robbery at Dillet Street on 30th September, Darlington Ifeanyi Chukwu has been charged and two people Ishmael Mansaray aka Tigana and Prince Owoh aka Prince are wanted.
On the Lunsar 30th September armed robbery wherein armed robbers attacked a residence at No 12 Siaka Stevens, Lunsar and stole one hundred million Leones seven people have been arrested with one wanted.
Superintendent Bangura maintained that regarding the armed robbery at Leicester Road along Tree Planting on 6th October, where a Police Officer was killed on duty, two suspects: Mohamed Salieu Kamara aka Charlie and Abu Fornah have been charged to court.
Idrissa Turner, Mohamed Lamin aka Boxer, Brima John aka Beejay and Maada Tommy, she said are wanted in connection with the Leicester Road incident.
On the two armed robberies that occurred in Lungi on 16th September, two persons: Saidu Koroma and Mohamed Mansaray she said have been charged to court.
Supt Bangura further said that the Goderich Junction armed robbery on 24th August, wherein a Fullah business man was robbed of property worth Le 56 Million, two persons Christopher Cole and Darlington Ifeanyi Chukwu have been charged to court.
Four persons: Ishmael Mansaray aka Tigana, Robert, Prince Owoh aka Prince and Wurie are wanted by the Police.
She reiterated that on 3rd October a vehicle was intercepted with six persons: Darlington Ifeanyi Chukwu, Paul Eric Chukwu, Aiah Mbayoh, Ifeanyi Duwenchukwu, Kalilu Jalloh and Abu Bakar Sesay have been charged to court.
On the Southern region, she said Police have arrested two robbers, Ernest Koroma and Dauda Kairo aka Yellow Man have been arrested.
For the Eastern Region robbery that took place in Kenema, Abdulai Kamara has been declared wanted.
Supt Bangura reiterated that a cash reward of two million Leones will be given to any person who passes information that will lead to arrest of those wanted, especially Ishmeal Msansaray aka Tigana.
The Inspector General (IG) of Police Brima Acha Kamara said that armed robbery gained momentum after the Lungi incident where Police killed three people.
He said that for quite sometime they have tried their level best to ensure that there is peace and stability in the country.
The armed robbery, he said, has some international element, wherein some citizens from West African countries are involved.
Through investigation, Police have been able to know how these armed robbers go about their business, how they behave and those who involved, he said.
However he said that If only “I have the chance I will not ask for the MAC-P to be invoked.”
Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Operations Morie Lengor said that most of the crimes are committed by youths who are unemployed.
By Abibatu Kamara