Cole, an on-air broadcaster with the independent radio station SKY-FM, was abducted by Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels from his home near Sandars Street in central Freetown. He was being taken along with other captives to an RUF base in the east end of Freetown when a distraction caused by a West African peacekeeping force (ECOMOG) plane flying overhead allowed the other prisoners to flee.
Cole, who was prevented by the RUF rebels from escaping, was shot dead by his abductors in front of his fiancee. RUF forces reportedly entered Freetown with a list of journalists to be eliminated for what was perceived as “anti-RUF” coverage.