By: Haja Hawa Koroma
During a press conference held by the Sierra Leone Police on the 5th July 2022, at its headquarters, the issues surrounding the 4th of July strike action by some inciters and strike action agitators including politicians were addressed.
The Assistant Inspector General of Police, Amadu Manneh carefully outlined the events surrounding the strike action.
He stated that some members from the COPP recently approached the police requesting for a warrant in undertaking a peaceful strike action.
There were various party representatives from the various opposition parties who requested for this warrant.
After a long deliberation between the COPP and the Police they came to a conclusion and the police denied them a warrant for the peaceful protest mainly because the police think that this protest is requested for at a bad time.
According to the AIG, he mentioned that, right across the country there are several queues at fuel stations of innocent citizens, and amongst other economic issues that the entire country is faced with, they saw videos and audios that were making rounds on social media whereby the police and commercial riders were threatened and thus by warranting a protest they are indirectly promoting violence in the country and there duty is to promote peace not violence.
AIG Mannah further mentioned that the head of the Unity Party, Femi Claudius Cole was seen parading with placards on social media challenging the police, claiming that she and her protesters will conduct the protest with or without the police permit.
According to the AIG, She was therefore arrested because she made do on her claims and the police saw this as an act of public incitement.
He said she is therefore charged for committing a crime and this was what led to her arrest.
The AIG also stated that 54 suspects were arrested during the Monday 4th of July 2022 demonstration in Freetown, as according to him these suspects were charged with allegations of riotous conduct and illegal procession, contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone.
But all these suspects have been released as they are first time offenders, but were given a strong warning not to repeat such actions as the police will be forced to take action against them if they were to repeat these crimes.
AIG Amadu Mannah encourages every citizen in Sierra Leone to be law abiding and if they feel the need to engage in a protest to do so peacefully and quietly.
He advises that Sierra Leoneans must consider forming these protests in a particular location where the police will provide them with security, because it is unfair to other citizens if they take the protest to the entire streets of Freetown.
He added that this Monday strike action caused every Sierra Leonean a lot of loss as businesses were forced to shut down on that day and it is their responsibility to look out for every Sierra Leonean. So if citizens feel the need to form a protest they should do so but not at the detriment of other citizens.
