Freetown – The Inspector General of Sierra Leone Police, William Fayia Sellu, has revealed details surrounding the recent killing of two fugitive military officers involved in the failed November 26, 2023, coup attempt.
Addressing a press conference, IGP Sellu described the fugitives as a “big threat” to national security, adding that they were planning another coup.
The two individuals, Captain Aish Aba Sensie and Captain T.L. Conteh, had been on the run since last year’s failed insurrection. According to the IG, weeks of intensive surveillance led to their discovery at a hideout in Waterloo. Audio recordings intercepted by authorities revealed that the fugitives were prepared to resist any effort to apprehend them.
“We have been able to neutralize a very big threat,” IGP Sellu stated. “They were neutralized because they put up resistance.” He disclosed that weapons were recovered at the scene alongside black-and-white T-shirts with inscriptions promoting “The Movement for Liberation” and calls for “Social, Economic, and Political Freedom.”
The IG further revealed that the fugitives had been receiving financial support from outside the country, with funds transferred through Ria Money.
He emphasized that the police have now launched a manhunt for individuals who may have assisted in harboring the fugitives.
This operation marks the second time security forces have thwarted a coup attempt in Sierra Leone in recent years.
The failed coup in November 2023 resulted in a bloody confrontation that left 24 security officers and three attackers dead. Authorities remain on high alert to prevent further destabilization efforts.
