By: Mabinty Kamara

Claim: Shooting and general unrest at Murray Town in Freetown

Verdict: TRUE

Full Text

Reports suggest that in the early hours of Tuesday 28^th November 2023, gunshots were heard around the military barracks in Murray Town and subsequent unrest in the vicinity.

Methodology:

Reliable sources within the vicinity have confirmed that indeed shots were fired during an incident involving the extraction of two suspects from a specific area in Murray Town. The security sector has also confirmed this as true

Conclusion:

There was indeed shooting and unrest at Murray Town leading to the apprehension of two suspects, following yesterday’s unrest.

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.

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By: Christian Conteh

Claim: Government lifts Curfew Order

Verdict: FALSE- A nationwide curfew that was declared on Sunday Morning is still in force

Full Text:

On Sunday 26^th November 2023, a nationwide curfew was declared. This is in direct response to a security breach at the armory in Wilberforce barracks leading to firing in some parts of Freetown.

Immediately after the President’s address to the nation at 8:00 pm, social media was awash with opinions, questions and rumours that the curfew had been lifted.

Methodology:

To answer these questions, verify these opinions and confirm these rumours the SuperNewsRoom carefully listened to the full length of the President’s speech and also looked out for official correspondence from  statehouse or the Information Ministry. None of these suggest the curfew is lifted.

Conclusion:

There is an ongoing curfew across Sierra Leone and the government has not made any official statement to suggest it is lifted.

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.

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By: Mabinty Kamara

Claim: LAJ has been released from Prison and he has surrendered himself to the Sierra Leone Police

Verdict: False– Popular hip-up artist LAJ has not surrendered himself to the Sierra Leone Police

Full Text

Reports on social media have suggested that popular rapper LAJ has surrendered himself to the Sierra Leone Police after the confirmed prison break in Freetown. This our police source confirms is not true. LAJ was spotted in a viral video among other alleged released inmates. It is claimed that he has been freed from the Pademba Road Correctional Centre where he has been serving a jail term.

Methodology:

The SLAJ/NDI SuperNewsRoom fact checkers contacted the spokesperson of the Sierra Leone Police Assistant Commission of Police ACP Brima Kamara to ascertain if the celebrity handed himself over to the police after his release from prison. However, he could not confirm the claim when we contacted him.

Conclusion:

We can confirm that LAJ is out of prison but has not surrendered himself to the police

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.

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By: Mabinty M. Kamara

Claim: LAJ is out of prison

Verdict: TRUE– Popular hip-up artist LAJ has been spotted in a  viral video among other alleged released inmates. It is claimed that he has been freed from the Pademba Road Correctional Centre where he has been serving a jail term.

Methodology: the SLAJ/NDI SuperNewsRoom fact checkers contacted the Sierra Leone Correctional Service Media Officer Lesly Cole-Showers who confirmed that LAJ is not in their custody.

Conclusion: We can authoritatively confirm that LAJ is out of prison

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.

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By: Mabinty Kamara

Claim: Abandoned military van around Kossoh Town full of arms including RPG

Verdict: TRUE- A military van was found around Kossoh Town full of arms including RPG

Full Text:

A military van with arms including a Rocket Propel Grenade (RPG) was in the early hours of November 26 2023 discovered abandoned at Kossoh town. The vehicle with registration number 72SL07 is believed to have been left there after an exchange of gunfire between opposing military forces.

Methodology

The SLAJ/NDI SuperNewsRoom reached out to the Sierra Leone police. A police source confirmed that a military van believed to have been in possession of the attackers was abandoned at Kossoh Town around a place called Mende Town Junction after hitting a wall.

Conclusion:

Although the police source didn’t confirm whether or not the vehicle was full of armory, we can from video evidence confirm that ammunition including a Rocket Propel Grenade was in the abandoned vehicle.

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.

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By: Christian Conteh

Claim: A military guard attached to former President Koroma has been shot dead

Verdict: TRUE

Full Text

Reports confirming the shooting of a security guard, known as Eddie, by military personnel have emerged. Additionally, another officer was forcefully taken from the former president’s residence during this incident.

Methodology:

SLAJ/NDI SuperNewsRoom reached out to Ishmael Sheriff, Principal Assistant to Former President Koroma who confirmed that Eddy was indeed shot dead by military personnel and another officer forcefully taken.

Conclusion:

We can authoritatively confirm that a military guard attached to former President Koroma was shot dead in the former president’s Femi-Turner residence.

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.

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By: Mabinty Kamara

Verdict: TRUE, It has been confirmed

Full Text

Reports on social media indicating the release of detainees from the Kissy police station situated on Barracks Old Road by individuals donning military attire have been confirmed by an officer assigned to the Kissy Police Station.

Methodology:

The SLAJ/NDI SuperNewsRoom reached out to personnel at the station and an officer assigned to the station affirmed that a cadre of men dressed in military camouflage descended upon the station.

He went on to confirm that, “they not only freed the detainees housed within the facility but also disarmed the Operational Support Division (OSD) personnel who were on duty”.

Conclusion:

Although the exact count of detainees liberated during this incident remains undisclosed, we can authoritatively confirm that indeed detainees at Kissy Police Station were freed by unidentified military personnel

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.

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By: Christian Conteh

Claim: Idrissa Ahmid Kamara, known as ‘Leather Boot’ and a former Head of the Sierra Leone Police Close Protection Unit serving ex-President Koroma, has been gunned down.

Verdict: TRUE, the pictures and video on social media have been confirmed

Full Text:

Videos and photos circulating on social media indicate the tragic shooting of Idrissa Ahmid Kamara, widely recognized as ‘Leather Boot,’ who previously led the close protection unit for ex-President Koroma. Investigations confirm the authenticity of this claim.

Methodology:

Through investigation including video and picture verification, it has been established that Idrissa Ahmid Kamara, bearing the Alias ‘Leather Boot’ and formerly in charge of the Sierra Leone Police Close Protection Unit, was indeed fatally shot.

Conclusion:

After forensically verifying the video and photo on social media we can confirm that Idrissa Ahmid Kamara, known as ‘Leather has been gunned down.

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.

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By: Mabinty Kamara

Claim: The Public Broadcaster SLBC is under Siege

Verdict: FALSE, SLBC went off-air at some point in time but is not under siege.

Full Text

Reports circulating on social media claimed that the State Broadcaster (SLBC) was under siege, with heavy smoke allegedly emanating from its compound.

Methodology:

Investigations reveal that these claims are inaccurate. Residents living around the SLBC premises and staff members have confirmed that the station and its personnel are not under any form of attack or siege.

Conclusion

While it’s true that SLBC was off-air at some point in time, there is no evidence to support the claim of a fire or a siege at the compound.

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.

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By Christian Conteh

Claim: There has been a breach in security at the Pademba Road Prison and Inmates are on the run

Full Text

Reports have emerged alleging a breach in prison security resulting in the release of inmates in Freetown. The claims circulating suggest that unidentified individuals breached the prison, leading to the release of inmates. The exact time and location of this incident remain unverified, but the reports indicate a significant security breach.

Verdict: TRUE-  We can confirm that there has been a Breach of Security at the Pademba Road Correctional Facility and Inmates have been released

Methodology

BBC Stringer Umaru Fofanah, a reliable source, who is out in the streets conveyed information regarding this incident.

Efforts to confirm these claims involved attempts to contact the Police media team, which were unsuccessful. However, sources close to the prison facility have hinted at a security lapse leading to inmate release.

The specifics surrounding the incident, including the number of inmates released, remain unclear at this point. No official statement from law enforcement or government authorities has been made available to verify or provide details on the situation.

Conclusion: We can confirm that indeed there has been a breach of security at the Pademba Road Correctional facility and Inmates are on the run.

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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