Sierra Leone protests are acts of terror - president
The president declared that calm had returned to Freetown and that security personnel had been sent in to ensure that the situation did not get any worse
Boakyewaa Lawrencia 
President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone has referred to anti-government demonstrations as terrorist operations orchestrated by foreign-based agitators.
A total of 130 people have been detained during protests against the high cost of living, corruption, and police violence that have taken place in the opposition's stronghold in the north and the capital, Freetown.
After leaving the country, President Bio has now returned and told BBC Focus on Africa that the protests had a political motivation.
"What occurred [on Wednesday] was not a protest; it was the ultimate form of terrorism. A small number of Sierra Leoneans living abroad have threatened to wreak terror in their country "said he.
There is politics underneath everything that is taking place, he continued.
The president declared that calm had returned to Freetown and that security personnel had been sent in to ensure that the situation did not get any worse.
He admitted that citizens were affected by underlying worries.
"The majority of the youth are unemployed, thus there is undoubtedly suffering. We do understand their plight, and as a government, we have taken many steps to solve it "said he.
