By: Mabinty M. Kamara

Claim: Unknown persons broke into the Wilberforce Amory leading to a heavy exchange of fire in some parts of Freetown in the early hours of Sunday.

Verdict: TRUE- Officials and sources close to the Wilberforce Military barrack confirmed the breakage.

Methodology:

Widespread claim shared on Facebook and WhatsApp that there were heavy firing in Freetown in the morning of 26^th November 2023.

There are at least two claims in the circulating posts:

1. i)That live rounds were fired in some parts of Freetown (Hill station where the presidential Lodge is, the Wilberforce Military Barracks, around Dwazark junctions; close to the main correctional centre.
2. ii)That there was a breakage in the Wilberforce armoury

To verify these claims, SLAJ/NDI super Newsroom fact checkers could not get the Police media team to verify the information but the head of the Republic of Sierra Leone Arm Forces (RSLAF) Conel Issa Bangura said there was an attempted breakage. However, he said the suspect could not penetrate “Our arms and ammunitions are intact and the situation is under control now,” he said. Conel Bangura could not speak on the arrests, except that it was a battle.

A press statement from the Ministry of Information also confirmed that there was an attempted breakage into the Armory, assuring that the government and security forces were in control.

Conclusion:

The Breakage into the Wilberforce Military Armory is confirmed.  It is however not yet clear the motive behind the breakage, the people involved and how many people have been arrested so far if any.

Note:  This fact-checked story is a product of the SLAJ/NDI SuperNewsRoom on Combating Disinformation in Sierra Leone’s 2023 electoral cycle. The project is supported by Global Affairs Canada to enable citizens to have access to credible and accurate information in Sierra Leone.

We will continue to update you on the incident and more

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