A
secondary school student and a street seller were shot dead by security
forces in northern Sierra Leone on Tuesday during a demonstration by
youth 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 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, according to protesters
and a resident. 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, said the protest
was non-violent and 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.
A police officer reached by AFP said
anti-government demonstrators had attacked and burnt down the office of
the ruling All Peoples Congress and his own residence.
Local Unit Commander Superintendent Alimammy Bangura said he had been “reduced to a pauper” with his home razed to the ground.
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.
Around 70% of Sierra Leone’s young people are unemployed or underemployed, according to UN figures.