The Government of Sierra Leone has on Tuesday July 7, 2020, released its findings on a riot involving hundreds of inmates at the Male Correctional Centre on April 29, 2020 in Freetown.
Thirty inmates and a prison guard were killed and dozens were injured after a riot broke out at the Male Correctional Centre in Freetown, according to the Director of Sierra Leone Correctional Service.
Joseph Lamboi told a news conference in Freetown that, out of this figure, 12 inmates died of gunshot wounds; 16 inmates died of blows from blunt force; and two inmates died of illnesses. This was confirmed by the Government Consultant Pathologist, Dr. Simeon Owizz Koroma, who said that some of the inmates died because they failed to report their injuries and which were also not treated.
The initial death toll announced immediately after the riot was 12.
Mr. Lamboi attributed the deaths from blunt force to clashes between rival groups of inmate within the centre who used the “riot as an opportunity to clash and wreak havoc one another.”
He said that 21 inmates and 32 Correctional Officers sustained injuries, and added that all but four inmates have recovered from their injuries.
He further said that the remains of six inmates have been identified and given befitting burials by their families, while the 24 others which have not been identified up till then, remain in the morgue.
The director said that delay in coming up with their findings was because the only Government Pathologist, Dr. Simeone Owizz Koroma who had to perform autopsies on the corpses was ill and the Service had to wait for his recovery so that he could do the autopsy.
Causes of Riot
Mr. Lamboi said that overcrowding was one of the causes of the riot. “On that day, there were 1, 300 inmates (400% overcrowding), in a centre built to hold 324 inmates,” he said.
He said that the correctional service is understaffed and 40% under strength, but informed the gathering of Journalists and other civil society activists of plans to recruit more correctional service personnel which had been put on hold due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He also attributed the riot to drastic measures instituted by the correctional service, such as restricting movement within the correctional facility, suspending court sittings and closing the tuck shop (retail outlet) within the correctional facility.
RIOT
According to Lamboi the riot lasted for about three and half hours, adding that inmates damaged workshop doors and set stores and some other buildings housing stores, catering, reception, hospital, and workshop on fire, and also held some officers hostage and pelted stones at others. He said that the damage caused to buildings and equipment is estimated at Le19 billion.
He said that the force mounted up by joint security personnel to quell the riot was proportionate to that put up by the inmates though they were not armed with firearm.
He said that OSD personnel initially fired teargas into the centre to restore calm, but they failed to do so, adding that inmates refused to return to their cells: “The armed personnel forced their way into the correctional facility and used reasonable force to restore calm,” he claimed.
The Director of Correctional Service said that as a result of the riot, they had set up a riot command post and had held a multi-sectorial engagement to ensure better reforms in the SLCS.
He added that they are also providing psychosocial support persons affected by the riot.
The Minister of Information and Communication, Mohamed Rahman Swaray, in his remarks said that the publication of the findings of the investigation is part of the government transparency drive to inform members of the public about happenings in the country.
By Alusine Sesay
08/07/2020. ISSUE NO.: 7853