By: Problyn J. Alpha
As the 2023 general elections draw closer in Sierra Leone, Security Personnel in Kono District have explained their preparedness for watertight security before, during and after the said electioneering process in the country as elections in Sierra Leone are most times characterized by violence, unrest and skirmishes.
Explaining the said preparedness owing to the roles and responsibilities of security personnel in the District, the Kono District Security coordinator office of National Security Ibrahim Turay noted that his office which is charged with the constitutional responsibility of providing early warnings of violence or conflict and to coordinate security measures at chiefdom level, districts and provincial levels across the country.
Mr Turay said the aim is to ensure an enabling environment for the citizens to live amicably and peacefully on the sound footing in Kono District, adding that since he assumed office in 2021 to date the district has been relatively peaceful because the office is professionally discharging its duties. He said they as staff are constantly working with the military, Police and other primary security sectors to ensure that peace is sustainable in the district and the country as a whole.
Ibrahim Turay further noted that security in Kono District is watertight and therefore encouraged all and sundry especially the various registered political parties, their supporters and sympathies to behave themselves within the confines of the law.
Lieutenant Connell Alhaji Sheku Kallon is the commander 9th infantry battalion Kono District he reinterated the preparedness ahead of the June 24th General Elections. He stressed that their mission is to ensure that peace and stability in the district and the country as a whole are maintained.
Lieutenant Connell Kallon disclosed that their mission as military officers can only be achieved through night and border patrols together with the Sierra Leone Police Force. He pointed out that their constitutional mandate is to ensure that they defend the country against both external and internal revolts at all times “I beseech youths to deviate from any form of violence before, during and even after the 2023 general elections”, the Kono District Military Boss appealed.
Alhaji Bangura is the Local unit commander Tankoro Police Divisional Headquarters he affirmed their primary responsibility of providing safety and security for the lives and property of the people of Kono District. He intimated that the SLP was established to prosecute offenders and arrest defaulters of the laws of the land in order to enhance peaceful coexistence in the District and the country as a whole. The Tankoro divisional police boss also stressed that they are charged with the responsibility of providing safety environment for political activities. He encouraged citizens to always abreast the police with every protest or activity they would want to undertake for security reasons thereby to prevent the interference of hoodlums.
LUC Bangura maintained that they discuss and implement security issues together as a body adding that the reason for election has been misapprehended by many which he supposed is the cause of election violence including other abnormalities. He said to address such menace; they have created a platform to orientate the people of Kono District that elections are not about hate speeches, violence, destruction of banners and criticism. “We are optimistic that peace will continue to reign in Kono District before, during and after the 2023 General Elections”, LUC Bangura opined.
On his part the local unit commander Motema Police Divisional Headquarters Unisa Ben Mohamed also maintained that they were in readiness to securitize the forth coming elections professionally because the responsibility of the SLP is to Police the said elections in a peaceful atmosphere. “We have been working in togetherness with the other security sectors in the previous elections and we are more than ready this time to ensure that there is peace in Kono district and Sierra Leone as a whole the police boss Tankoro Divisional headquaters assured.