Sierra Leone has been placed under a nationwide curfew after armed men broke into prisons, setting inmates free.
Authorities in Sierra Leone have announced that some detainees from prison facilities were released on Sunday morning.
It is reported that gunmen had attacked a military barracks in capital city, Freetown.
Residents reported hearing gunshots at the barracks, which are located close to the presidential residence.
The Ministry of Information and Civic Education after the incident placed immediate curfew.
Residents across the country are “strongly” recommended to stay indoors and flights to and from the nation’s only international airport have been cancelled.
The “assailants” have been pushed back to the outskirts of Freetown, Information Minister Chernor Bah said.
“Most of the city is calm and under control of the state security forces.
“Major detention centres including the Pademba Road Prisons were attacked earlier today and in the interest of protecting civilian lives (including of prisoners), the security forces were forced to make a tactical retreat.”
According to BBC, it sources say that some of the gunmen, including the guard of former President Ernest Koroma, have been arrested.
President Julius Maada Bio has urged citizens to stay indoors.
In the president’s address on Sunday evening he said the gunmen attached a military barracks and took away some armoury away.
He said “most of the leaders” of the attackers have been arrested.
According the president the attackers has been arrested by a “combined team of gallant security services and calm have been restored”.
The political situation in Sierra Leone has remained tense since June, when President Bio was re-elected.
