Execution
Stevens, who Bangura had put in power after the Sargeants' Coup in 1968 had Bangura arrested and charged him with conspiracy in 1970. Bangura was sentenced to death by execution for treason against the state. On March 29, 1970, Stevens had Bangura hanged after he was mercilessly beaten and had concentrated acid poured on Bangura. To prevent people from making a martyr of Bangura, Stevens ordered his body to buried at an undisclosed location which he had paved over with the Kissy Road.
After Stevens retired from office he told a reporter that he regretted having Bangura killed: "I should not have allowed those executions."
Siaka Stevens in his book: I am fully aware that many people were shocked when these sentences were carried out and that even today, much speculation goes on as to what prompted me to allow the law to take its course. There is even a fantastic rumour circulating that I had actually decided to commute the sentences to terms of imprisonment but that certain strong party members had forced me to change my mind. Let me put the record straight here and now. No single person, nor even the demon strations in favour of the death sentence that filed through the city, had any influence whatsoever on the action I was obliged to take. For me it was a dreadful act. I had to wrench myself out of my own character.
| Government offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Andrew Juxon-Smith |
Governor-General of Sierra Leone 1968–1968 |
Succeeded by Sir Banja Tejan-Sie (acting) |
Read more about this topic: John Amadu Bangura
Famous quotes containing the word execution:
“I will soon be going out to shape all the singing tomorrows.”
—Gabriel Péri, French Communist leader. Letter, July 1942, written shortly before his execution by the Germans. Quoted in New York Times (April 11, 1943)
“It is clear that in a monarchy, where he who commands the exceution of the laws generally thinks himself above them, there is less need of virtue than in a popular government, where the person entrusted with the execution of the laws is sensible of his being subject to their direction.”
—Charles Louis de Secondat Montesquieu (1689–1755)
“If I were asked to chose between execution and life in prison I would, of course, chose the latter. It’s better to live somehow than not at all.”
—Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (1860–1904)