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Calm returns to Freetown

    ABIDJAN

    Calm returned to Sierra Leone's capital, Freetown, on Friday after clashes between rioting youths and Nigerian businessmen in the city centre on the previous day, sources told IRIN on Friday.

    The disturbances started after the body of a Sierra Leonean businessman, Kortor Jan, was found in a guest house. Jan had allegedly been abducted by Nigerian fraudsters on Monday, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reported on Thursday. The youths then went on a rampage to avenge his death, swearing to attack every Nigerian, BBC added.

    UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) Acting Spokesman Patrick Coker said that Sierra Leone police and UNAMSIL moved in and helped restore calm. Thursday's riots had been restricted to the business area of Freetown, he said, adding that Sierra Leonean police were patrolling the city and UNAMSIL was also on the look out in case of any trouble.

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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