SAN FRANCISCO, August 16, (THEWILL) – A secondary school student and a street seller were shot dead by policemen in Northern Sierra Leone on Tuesday during a demonstration by youths angered by the relocation of a job training centre.
Police in Kabala, Koinadugu district, said youth activists set fire to homes, burning two to the ground, while the protesters spoke of a peaceful rally attended by dozens that was fatally halted by bullets fired into the crowd.
Nurses treating the wounded at a nearby hospital confirmed to reporters that they had seen two dead bodies and were treating at least 15 injured people.
The victims, whose identities have not been disclosed, were shot in the head and the back as images circulated from the protest showed a barely pubescent boy lying in a pool of blood.
Others survived but also suffered gunshot wounds, according to the protesters.
Mohamed Marrah, leader of Koinadugu District Youth Council, declared that the protest was non-violent and was related to the transfer of a training facility designed to improve job prospects in this poor rural community.
“They were unarmed and singing songs to get the authorities to reconsider the action. Suddenly, we heard shots and two people in the crowd just went limp,” he said.
“We protested for our rights but the police violently reacted by firing tear gas canisters and live bullets into the crowed which killed two of our people and left many others seriously injured,” he added.
Police said an investigation had been opened and appealed for calm, announcing a curfew.
Military reinforcements were sent from the regional capital, Makeni, and were guarding key institutions and facilities by nightfall.
Kabala is the largest but least developed district in the northern province of Sierra Leone, one of the world's poorest countries.
Story by David Oputah
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