ECOMOG SERGEANT PUTS PRESIDENT KABBAH UNDER GUNPOINT

In May last year, the BBC's Jonathan Charles, did a comprehensive survey of Freetown and interviewed President Kabbah. Upon his return to London, Charles filed a controversial report entitled A PRISONER IN HIS OWN CASTLE? (to read the BBC report click on the words)

State House was not amused by the BBC's report last year. However, Charles' question can today be answered authouritatively by the NINJAS.

In simple terms, "YES! Tejan Kabbah is a prisoner in his palatial presidential lodge."

According to the NINJAS' Inside sources close to President Kabbah, a Nigerian ECOMOG Staff Sergeant manning the second checkpoint from the President's Lodge actually put the Sierra Leonean Head of State under gunpoint a few days ago.

The President who was on a nocturnal visit to one of his sweethearts decided to use the vehicle of a friend of his so that he would not be recognised when the vehicle pulled into the lady's compound. However, after manouevreing through the first checkpoint, the president's vehicle was halted by the ECOMOG Sergeant manning the second checkpoint.

Although the sergeant readily identified the president inside the vehicle, he instructed that the vehicle be turned around because he had not been informed that the president would be leaving the compound in an unusual vehicle.

At this point, President Kabbah became annoyed and threatened the sergeant. Coolly and calmly, the ECOMOG soldier then cocked his gun and pointed it at the vehicle, repeating his orders that the vehicle be turned back.

At this point, another vehicle pulled up behind the president's and the occupants of that vehicle identified the first vehicle as that of the president and angrily told the staff sergeant to stop "embarrassing" the Head of State. The staff sergeant deliberately refused to allow the president to move on saying he has to receive orders from ECOMOG Field Commander before he would allow him to pass through his checkpoint inside an unofficial vehicle.

President Kabbah had no other recourse but to return to the lodge a disappointment man.

The NINJAS Insider stated that if a low ranking soldier such as a staff sergeant could stop our president from leaving his presidential lodge, then there is every indication that Mr. President has no absolute control over his forces.

EXILED POLITICIANS SEEK TO RECONCILE WITH TEJAN KABBAH

A group of exiled politicians led by Dr. Abdulai Conteh, former APC Vice President have faxed a written a letter to the Head of State, President Tejan-Kabbah.

The politicians congratulated Kabbah on his reconciliatory moves and stated that they have been "highly impressed" with the president's plan to hold a National Conference in Freetown later this year. Sources also report that the president was relieved after reading the contents of the fax message from his political arch rivals.

ECOMOG BLOCKS HINGHA NORMAN FROM ENTERING LUNGI

The Deputy Defence Minister, Kamajor Chief Hinga Norman was refused entry into Lungi during the Peace Shuttle of the Nigerian Head of State, Olusegun Obasanjo, over the weekend.

Sources say that despite security orders that no aircraft or helicopter should be allowed to land after the presidential jet, Hinga Norman pompously defied the order and flew over to Lungi after the arrival of the Nigerian President.

He received the greatest shock of his life when the ECOMOG soldiers positioned their anti-aircraft guns at the helicopter bearing him. Realising that the Nigerians were very serious about downing the helicopter, Hinga Norman had the pilot take him back to Cockeril.

MINISTER MOMODU KOROMA CAUGHT STEALING AGAIN

One of the NINJAS' former friends and a disappointed blue-eyed boy of President Kabbah, Minister Momodu Koroma of Presidential Affairs fame was caught again by President Kabbah mortgaging State resources for $500,000 to an Indian by the name of Samir Patel.

Momodu, sources say had earmarked Port Loko bauxite deposits and Seiromco Mines to Patel's Blackstone Mining Company.

Mining Concession Documents made available to the NINJAS reveal the shocking details of the shady deal between Patel and Momodu Koroma. Koroma is a village schoolteacher who in two short years is now a multi- millionaire.

Presidential sources say when Momodu made the presentation to Pa Kabbah he was told by Pa Kabbah to wait until the Peace Agreement is signed. However, unknown to Momodu, Pa Kabbah was conducting his own private investigation on Blackstone Company. A thorough investigation by President Kabbah revealed that the Blackstone's registration papers for a certain Western country were all faked and that it was a bogus company.

Kabbah immediately summoned Momodu and squashed his ambition.

ECOMOG BEATS LUNGI MEDICAL DOCTOR TO A COMPLETE COMA

Frustrated Nigerian ECOMOG troops based at Lungi International Airport over the weekend beat mercilessly the Lungi Chief Medical Officer Dr S.Sankoh to a complete coma.

There have been varying reports about exactly why the medico was brutalised. However, the medico who is still in a coma is the only one who could explain what exactly transpired before between him and the soldiers before his agony atarted. However, people in Lungi report that of late the attitude of the ECOMOG officials in the Airport is most unbecomming.

SECOND SET OF NEW RECRUITS TO PASS OUT ON JULY 5TH 1999

The second batch of the new Sierra Leone Army currently undergoing training at the Benguema Training camp will soon be passing out. Defence sources say if everything goes as well as planned, a passing-out parade will be held on the 5th of July.

Already, four of the first batch of new soldiers have been discharged for indiscipline, looting and assault.

DISARMED COMBATANTS RECEIVE LE250,000 EACH AS LAST PAY

200 ex-combatants were discharged on Thursday after going through after 9 months of demobilization, rehabilitation and re-integration program.

The discharged ex-combatants, mainly disabled persons were given a package of Le250,000 equivalent 100 USD.

The package was however received with mixed feelings.

STATE HOUSE IS NOW A PROSTITUTE BROTHEL.

All hell broke loose last saturday around 16:00GMT when two women came out of State House heaping abusive languages on each other.

Based on the expansive and interesting comments each levied at the other, it was seen that their quarrel was about some masculine members of the human race.

Crowds of spectators including reporters who emerged on the scene before Oga ECOMOG could bar them report that the two girls, Kadiatu Conteh and Mimi were contracted to spend Friday night at State House by some ECOMOG officers there.

However, according to reports, Kadiatu was paid a larger sum because she was used more often throughout the night than Mimi. Mimi, therefore became jealous of Kadia and attacked her verbally whilst they were leaving State House the next afternoon.

Onlookers, including one of the NINJAS heard Mimi abuse her colleague of being a "low class koro" who was not fit to enter into State House. Mimi told the interested crowd that only a low class koro would agree to do "events" as many times as Kadiatu agreed to do it. At this point, the Nigerian soldiers used their gunbutts to disperse the crowd.

Today, the Standard Times newspaper wrote in its gossip column that State House and also the Paramount Hotel which now houses the CID are being used as brothels for the pleasure of the Nigerian soldiers.

Meanwhile, an ECOMOG Captain was diagnosed with HIV, the bacteria that causes AIDS last week at the Connaught Hospital. He had complained of a funny skin disease and when he was tested, he proved positive for the dreaded bacteria.

The Captain upon being counselled and informed of the results, told the AIDS workers that he would now go out and "spread the booty." Despite several attempts to dissuade him, Oga Captain left Connaught Hospital determined to spread the booty.

Social workers in the capital have revealed that the extensive number of rapes perpetuated by the RUF rebels and with poverty reducing Sierra Leone women to prostitution for ECOMOG, Sierra Leone might have the highest incidence of HIV/AIDS come the twentieth century.

POST OFFICE WORKERS STAGE DEMONSTRATION TODAY

SALPOST workers today staged a peaceful demostration in front of their offices for non payment of salaries and other benefits.

Dozens of workers continue to block the main entrance of the building at both the Siaka Stevens Streets entrance and the Gloucester Streets gate even as the NINJAS go to press.

The workers carried placards calling for the immediate removal of their seniors.One placard claimed that their bosses are misusing public cash meant for the workers. They are also calling for an investigation into the financial management and the Personel Department.

Another placard simply read "Boss spends Le1million on one of his eyes each year"

The postal workers strike is just the latest in a series of civil servants strikes that have been hitting the beleaguered cash-strapped government. A strike action called by the mdeical profession has already left six patients dead last weekend. Last week, angry workers stampeded throughout the Youyi Buildind searching for the Minister of Health and his deputy whom they accuse of delaying their salaries.

Salaries have not been paid to workers now for at least three months and in some cases, for over ten months now.

PETER PENFOLD'S DONATION IS AN "INSULT" TO SIERRA LEONE

The much publicized donation of the British High Commissioner Kamrabai Penfold to wives of demobilized soldiers at Mammy Yoko in Freetown recently has been described as an insult to the integrity of Sierra Leoneans by the wives.

NINJA Investigations reveal that the "donation" came down to 5 bags of 50kg rice for over 3000 women. The "donation" of the diplomat was rejected by almost every woman amidst grumbling and curses.

One woman told Ninja Joe that as a petty trader she had wasted a whole day away from her wares only to be shown 5 bags of 50 kilogram rice to be distributed among 3,000 and more women. "It cannot suffice even a hundred women." she added.

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