Reports reaching A-Z has revealed a heartrending situation involving twenty-two (22) Sierra Leoneans who are currently languishing in the Guinean maximum prison in Conakry which is the capital city.

According to the one of the detained Sierra Leonean they were picked up by Guinean Security forces in collaboration with the driver that was about to take them to their next destination in Mali.

The inmate said they are 22 in number who were captured in different locations in the country by the Guinean Police, but explained further that himself and 5 others were seized around the Wureh Kabba area in Fouta Djallon as they were trying to move to neighboring Mali which was their next destination.

He said on the night they were arrested the time had already past ten o’clock PM so the driver suggested that they pass the night in his house because it was during elections period in Guinea, so he decided that we continue the travel the next morning.

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“At around 1 to 2 O’clock Am, we had a knock on the door and it was the driver, we then opened and he said we are wanted at the Police station to do some identification about some guys who claimed to be Sierra Leoneans. Upon reaching outside the compound, we saw some Police men and Soldiers with arms and vehicles, we then went to the station and met other suspects on the floor crying profusely, we asked them what’s their crime; they said nothing they were only captured when travelling just like us.

Later they were accused of being rebels who were ferried across the border from Sierra Leone to disrupt the Guinean elections. Later statements were taken from us and we were taken to the Mamoun cell. In the morning hours at around eleven to twelve PM they then took us to the capital city Conakry at a prison called Mafanko were we spent six days and on the eleventh day we were charged to court,” One of the victims narrated.

The inmate said they solicited the help of the Sierra Leone Ambassador to Guinea but he never came to their rescue, but went further to explaining that it was one Mr. Fofanah who paid them a visit twice, before they were charged to Court.

He continued that they were asked to sign some papers but they refused and insisted to see the Ambassador but Mr. Fofanah and others showed up again, and encouraged them to sign the papers which they did, after which they were transferred to Zagate, the biggest prison in Conakry at nine o’clock PM.

The prisoner said their luggage were taken away from them which he said contained their passports, yellow cards, Identity cards, mobile phones and physical cash.

He stated that they were placed in different locations in the prison, and after one month one Mr Fofanah and one Mr Jalloh came to ask about their names and where they came from with the hope that they will be freed, but all turns out to be of no avail.

It was alleged that the Sierra Leone Embassy in Guinea seems to show less interest in securing their release from prison, so the Sierra Leonean prisoner reechoed the cry of his countrymen by calling on the Government to intervene in order to secure their immediate release in this issue.

“We have spent eight months behind bars having committed no crime,” he concluded.