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FALSE! Major Issa Turay not killed by Sierra Leone’s Govt 

CLAIM: Makoni Times posted on its Facebook wall that President Bio’s government killed Major Issa Turay.

VERDICT:  False. The Turay family has released a statement detailing the circumstances of Major Turay’s death, which shows it was a natural cause.

Full Text

On Thursday, August 17, Makoni Times posted on its Facebook wall that Major Issa Turay, who passed away on Wednesday, was killed by President Julius Maada Bio’s government. On its Facebook wall, it carried the picture of the late soldier with the quotation:

“Another military officer from the North, Kamakwei, has been killed by the Bio regime: Major Issa Turay of RSLAF.”

FALSE! Major Issa Turay not killed by Sierra Leone’s Govt 

Major Turay’s death occurred when there was an investigation into an alleged coup plot by some military officers, police and civilians. Last week, the police released names and pictures of nine suspected people on the run. Most of them are believed to be military officers.

Verification

Given how serious the claim is and the suspected coup allegations, DUBAWA decided to look into the claim.

The researcher sighted a statement released by the Turay family on Friday, August 18th detailing the circumstances leading to his death. The details pointed to a natural cause. The late soldier’s elder brother, Aruna Turay, who authored the press release that has now gone viral, explained that Major Turay collapsed suddenly at his Benguema residence and was rushed to the military hospital at Wilberforce.

Aruna Turay wrote: “The truth is that the Late Major Issa Turay died of natural causes in the early hours of Wednesday, 16th August 2023.”

Aruna added: “In the early hours of Wednesday, he collapsed at his residence at the Armed Forces Training Centre (AFTC) in Benguema. His fiancée (a lactating mother) telephoned me at 6:20 am and informed me that Major Issa had just reported “feel bad” and dropped on his parlour floor. So, immediately, I advised her to take him to the Medical centre at AFTC.”

Aruna continued that his brother was later referred to the address,  34, Military Hospital, Wilberforce and by the time they got to the hospital, he was pronounced dead.

DUBAWA also contacted Aruna on whether his younger brother was under any suspicion by authorities to have participated in the alleged coup plot. He said no because his brother was even on the verge of travelling for a peacekeeping mission.

“My brother had no connection with whatever allegations of coup plot were going on. In fact, he was even on training, getting ready to be deployed for a peacekeeping mission in Somalia.”

“He was a good soldier and confided in me. He respects authority, so we are saddened that we have to go through these lies while we are grieving,” Aruna said.

In a rare move, the Ministry of Defence released a statement on Friday, August 18, on Major Turay’s passing, corroborating the family’s account.

“Major Issa Turay’s death which took place in the early hours of Wednesday, August 16, 2023, is of a natural cause due to long-term ailment. His name was neither on the list of those arrested for alleged subversion, nor of those declared wanted by the SLP.”

The Turay family has urged Makoni Times to take down the post, or they will explore an option to sue the platform.

DUBAWA has since contacted Makoni Times to support their claim with evidence, but they have yet to respond as of the time of filing this report.

FALSE! Major Issa Turay not killed by Sierra Leone’s Govt 
Screenshot of the message that was sent on Friday

Conclusion:

Based on the explanation from the family, Makoni Times’ claim that the Bio government killed Major Issa Turay is false.

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