Soldiers in Sierra Leone yesterday moved heavy anti-aircraft guns into ports and stepped up security after three paramilitary policemen and a port official were seriously injured when a Nigerian jet strafed an embargo-breaking ship docked at the main port of the capital, Freetown.
"We've got intelligence reports that Nigerian troops are devising methods and strategies to effectively enforce their self-imposed economic blockade and the sea, air and land embargo by capturing the main port," said an army spokesman yesterday.
The Vietnamese ship, laden with rice, berthed in Freetown on Wednesday despite an embargo approved by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), against the regime in power in Sierra Leone since a May coup. The ship was not hit in the shooting, which took place on Saturday, port officials said. According to military sources, the jet flew from Freetown's Lungi International Airport, held by Nigerian troops of the west African peacekeeping force, ECOMOG. Doctors said the men were critically injured with "gaping wounds on their legs and back".
On Friday, ECOMOG vowed to attack ships violating the embargo. "Henceforth, any ship or aircraft seen violating the ECOWAS economic embargo shall be doing so at their own risk and will be attacked by the ECOMOG force," read a statement.
The warning came a day after at least 50 civilians were killed in a bungled shelling of a ship unloading at Freetown port.
Meanwhile, Sierra Leone's high commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Joe Blell, yesterday pledged his loyalty to ousted president, Mr Ahmad Tejan Kabbah. "My overriding loyalty is to my country and that is to the legitimate government of President Kabbah," he told the independent Sunday Champion, adding: "I am here representing the legitimately elected government of Sierra Leone."
In Mr Blell's first public comment since the coup on May 25th, he said: "The people do not support the coup and none of us will support the coup for the flimsy reasons the junta gave. It was not a coup. It was a mutiny by disgruntled elements within the military."
He said he had withheld comment to avoid compromising negotiations between the junta in Freetown and a regional mediation committee.