By mohamedj.bah@awokonewspaper.sl
Freetown, SIERRA LEONE – Major General Dauda Alpha the Commander Joint Force, at Cockeril Headquarters on Friday 5th April, 2024 disclosed in the Court Martial hearing that his close protection officer, Sergeant Marrah was beheaded by the RPG blasted on his vehicle by the assailants.
He testified that Sergeant Marrah’s head was smashed into pieces, leaving behind his four-month-old baby and his beloved wife.
Led in evidence by Captain Yainkain Ballay Kamara, the witness said he was enlisted into the Armed Forces in 1991, serving Sierra Leone for about 33 years now.
Witness Alpha said his role is to supervise the conduct of all RSLAF officers across the nation and ensures that there is logistics support, capacity training both locally and internationally.
He recognized Lieutenant Colonel C. A .M Yamba, the seventeenth accused, who he said was deployed at Five Battalion Wilberforce, as Commanding Officer.
The witness recalled on 25th November 2023, adding that on that day at 18:00 hours he was at Cockeril Headquarters in his office checking the files of military officers.
While going through his files, he received a call from the security agent that an unknown individual has made a claim of a pending attack in the capital city Freetown.
He furthered that upon getting that information he immediately called Lieutenant Colonel Tommy and he passed on the message to him for him to ascertain the validity of the information.
He said he also called the Commander of the Quick Reaction Force that he should prepare his team so that he addresses them to maintain alert.
Other members also were alerted included his Principal Staff Colonel Aiah Bundu and his Deputy Chief of Staff Colonel M.M Kposowa , who were instructed to summon other officers. Witness Alpha told his Chief of Operations to call the seventeenth accused for him to attend the meeting he had summoned.
He furthered that as a Joint Force Commander, he has the privilege to call his joint force commanders when necessary.
While in the meeting, the seventeen accused showed up. Having known accused Yamba for years, upon his appointment as Commander of Five Battalion, he said he admonished him on his roles and responsibilities.
When Yamba came for the meeting, the witness furthered that he told accused Yamba not to sit in on the meeting but rather he should immediately go to his Unit and put his soldiers on standby and ensure that he provides formidable security within the precincts of his arms and ammunitions store.
He said the decision he made from the meeting was that he gave verbal orders for a joint RSLAF and Sierra Leone Police patrol to link up with AIG Brima Jah for a robust night patrol to be conducted from the Police Headquarters at George Street.
He furthered that the instructions were very clear and Brima Jah responded to the joint patrol, and they unanimously agreed.
He furthered that in that meeting he deliberately directed his Chief of Staff to lead the patrol team and for him to link up with the SLP at George Street for them to cover both the Western and Eastern parts.
While they were out of Cockeril Headquarters, the remaining soldiers were placed on standby awaiting further directives.
He said the patrol team returned around 1:30am and he ordered that nobody should go home, as they should be on standby until morning hours.
While on standby at 3:30am, they heard a blast, and he quickly called the accused Yamba on two occasions, but he was unreachable. Thus, he directed Colonel Sammy to reach out to him and accused Yamba eventually told them that his armoury was under attack by unknown assailants.
The witness furthered that he ordered Major Gasama to provide reinforcement to beef up his number.
Before he left, he ordered Colonel Kposowa verbally to hold on to Cockeril Barracks and defend it at all costs.
Based upon that information, the witness said he then left for the target of interest which was Pademba Road Prison and the Joint Logistics Unit at Murray Town, as he had ordered Colonel Jah his Chief of Staff and Colonel Samai to join his team.
Upon arrival at Pademba Road Prison, he admonished his team to be vigilant as he searched the Pademba Road Prison and then dashed to Murray town.
He said on their way to Murray Town, he admonished the troops to be vigilant as well.
Later the witness went to Cockeril Headquarters and upon his arrival, Colonel Kposowa whom he ordered to secure Cockeril Headquarters told him that Major Gasama had sustained injuries and has been taken to Emergency for treatment.
He was concerned about the welfare of the men in charge and that prompted him to go to the scene at Wilberforce Barracks to evaluate the security process.
The witness left with three vehicles and two additional officers and during that moment, he instructed late Colonel Samai to take the lead in driving, whilst he sat in the middle.
Whilst at Wilberforce he instructed his personnels to dismount from the vehicle and they walked on foot, adding that getting to the officers Mess Junction, they were spotted by the assailants and the assailants used the overhead bridge and started raining different types of weapons on them and at that point they froze.
During this period, accused Yamba, who was the Commanding Officer could not be located. He furthered that he called him on his phone on two occasions, but he was unreachable, and he directed Major Hindolo to get him. During their conversations, accused Yamba said he was not within Wilberforce Barracks but was within the 34 Hospital premise.
He instructed him to meet him at Mess Junction which he did, and he came with other Soldiers.
The witness said out of curiosity, he asked accused Yamba about his men but his excuse about his men was unexplainable and during that period he saw three to four soldiers who were killed, and he told accused Yamba to join them to attack the assailants which he did.
He furthered that they made positive advancement to the assailants but they were still within the armoury.
As a Commander, while the assailants were raining all types of weapons on them, he divided his team into two. One was at Mess Junction and other officers used the back of the armoury store and at the end of the day both teams shattered the armoury.
The witness pointed out that while they continued the mopping up operations at Wilberforce, he received a distress call from Colonel Kposowa who told him that Cockeril Headquarters is under attack and the assailants were at the gate.
At that moment, he disengaged and asked General Bangura to continue the operation at Wilberforce.
He said upon arrival at Congo Cross, he saw police vehicles and he quickly alighted from his vehicle and asked them for Delta One but he did not see him. He added that after several enquiries he and Colonel Samai proceeded to Cockeril Headquarters.
Few meters from Cockeril, their vehicles were ambushed by the assailants according to the witness, as they were targeted with RPG.
He said his close bodyguard Marrah who had served him for 20 years died to save his life.
He said when the RPG was blasted, the vehicle came to a halt and he dashed down the vehicle and crawled to a culvert at the side of the road and he climbed over quickly and he was there observing what was happening.
The assailants he said were in military attire and were aggressive and progressive in their firing.
He added that after the RPG blast on his vehicle, the assailants rushed to the vehicle to check if he was dead.
He said he sustained a very deep cut in his lower abdomen and the brain of his bodyguard was smashed.
He furthered that at that point while lying down on the floor, he saw late Colonel Samai crawling but the forces of the assailants kept him muted.
He was bleeding profusely and his entire uniform was soak and he saw blood clot coming from the wound but the assailants number were increasing and the soldiers did all they could to salvage the situation but they were over powered by the assailants.
The witness was cross examined by Defence Counsel Julian Cole on behalf of the seventeen accused and also Lawyer Charlie Williams and I. Mansaray cross examined the witness on behalf of other accused persons.
The matter comes up today for further hearing. MJB/8/4/2024