The government authorities in Sierra Leone have placed a nationwide curfew on the country, following Wednesday violent anti-government protests by the citizens.
The curfew from 3 p.m. local time (1500 GMT) was meant to curtail the protests linked to a rising inflation and a fuel crisis in the country.
Meanwhile, an unspecified number of deaths were said to have been recorded since the protest started.
Viral video clips of huge protesters and burning of tyres in some parts of Freetown, the nation’s capital are in the social media, with the footage showing a group of young men throwing rocks on a street filled with whitish smoke.
According to a university student, Daniel Alpha Kamara, the violence started at around 10:30 a.m. local time.
He said, when he saw clouds of tear gas rising up outside his dormitory room.
He said: “People are upset about the country’s justice system which is sickening, daily price rises and economic hardship.”
Also, Vice-President Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, in a video address, said: “These unscrupulous individuals have embarked on a violent and unauthorised protest which has led to the loss of lives of innocent Sierra Leoneans, including security personnel.”
Not giving number of people that had been killed, he said: “The government hereby declares a nationwide curfew. The security sector has been authorised to fully enforce this directive.”