A man identified by multiple sources as a member of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces was arrested on May 27, 2024, in Tonkolili District for his alleged involvement in the November 26 coup attempt that resulted in the deaths of several military and prison officers.
Known as Sergeant 506 Mohamed Koroma, the suspect had reportedly been in hiding after being declared wanted by the Sierra Leone Police for his alleged role in the coup. Koroma was apprehended in Magbondo village, Kholifa Mabang Chiefdom, by a joint police and military team.
According to residents and eyewitnesses, the team stormed the village with arms. One resident described the scene: "We saw two Jeeps in the afternoon. Minutes later, two men entered the house where Koroma was staying. They ordered him to move with them or be shot on the spot."
Despite being wanted for allegedly plotting to overthrow President Bio’s government while serving at the Fourth Infantry Brigade in Makeni, multiple village sources confirmed Koroma had been in the village long before the November 26 coup attempt. "He had been here for months before the coup," a resident stated.
Residents revealed that Koroma had been hiding in the village for the past seven months and had identified himself as a military officer. "It’s no longer a secret in the village that Koroma is one of the soldiers wanted by the police," an anonymous resident said.
Magbondo village Town Chief Issa Koroma was not present during the arrest but reported that eyewitnesses informed him Koroma was asleep when the arresting officers, dressed in plain clothes, entered the village. Abdul Sesay, a villager living in Kenema, was reportedly the one who led the arresting team to Magbondo.
Eyewitnesses mentioned that Koroma had been communicating with his wife over the phone, which might have led to his capture. Koroma was allegedly beaten, handcuffed, and taken to an unknown location, causing panic among villagers who were initially unsure of the arresting officers' identities or their destination.
Local Unit Commander Michael JK Lagga of the Mile 91 Police Station confirmed that the arresting team had informed him before the operation. Koroma is currently being investigated by the Sierra Leone Police at the Criminal Investigations Department headquarters in Freetown. Since the arrest, neither the police nor the government have issued a public statement, leaving the village in a state of anxiety.