The Sierra Leone Police (SLP) have taken stringent measures by barricading the residences of erstwhile President Ernest Bai Koroma at Femi Turner Drive, Goderich in Freetown.

The action comes after the former President was summoned by SLP at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters on Pademba Road on Friday 8th December, 2023 for questioning regarding the November 26 failed coup attempt in the country.

Reports indicate a visible police presence at former President Koroma’s residences at Goderich following his invitation to assist in the ongoing investigation into the failed coup attempt..

A video doing the rounds on social media displayed a police operational tent erected near the main residence of former President Koroma, indicating that the deployment of armed police and soldiers is to enforce restrictions on movement in and out of the premises.

However, while there are unofficial reports that former President Koroma has been placed under house arrest after an extensive two-and-a-half-hour interrogation at the CID Headquarters, others including the BBC’s stringer in Sierra Leone, Umaru Fofana, have alleged that the former President is not under any house arrest; instead; he personally asked the State for more security at his premises.

Meanwhile, it has been established by State authorities that most of the arrested assailants and fugitives of the failed coup attempt are former workers of erstwhile President Koroma, while the dismissed Superintendent Kabbah Kargbo is still an employee of the former President.