By: Mohamed Sahr
In an attempt to disrupt the democratic process of the country ahead of the General Elections, Sierra Leone Police yesterday informed the media about the hiring of ex-combatants by the All Peoples Congress (APC) during the press briefing at its headquarters in Freetown.
Mohamed Brima Jah Esq, Director of Operation for Sierra Leone said from an intelligent-led operation, they have notified that the All Peoples Congress hired ex-combatants which resulted in the release of five shots from the party’s headquarters; noting that two shots came directly from pistols and three were from AK47 rifle.
He added that after several failures of the APC to meet with the Police in order to discuss issues on how and when to commence their supposed peaceful possession, the APC wrote a letter to the Sierra Leone Police informing them that they would be calling on all their supporters to embark on a peaceful protest to the headquarters of the Electoral Commission Sierra Leone which the Police denied because of not using the appropriate measures.
Brima Jah furthered that the former Mayor of Freetown Yvonne Aki-Sawyer was seen in a video making rounds on social media misleading the public that SLP shot and killed protesters.
“This is not the first time the APC has done this. On that note, a single shot was not released from the Sierra Leone Police,” Brima Jah stated.
He said the Sierra Leone Police would institute proper disciplinary measures to clamp down on those people making outrageous and misleading statements. Brima Jah Esq mentioned that they would also take stringent guidelines to address the camping of ex-combatants by the All Peoples Congress party. He assured the press that they would continue to heighten the security of the country even before and after elections through a joint operation with the military officers and other security sectors.
“Those who are not prepared to see the safety and security of the country will be behind bars, “Brima Jah said.
He adds that 57 individuals were arrested in Freetown-East and nine (9) individuals in Freetown-West of which they had been taken to the police for further investigation. The director of Operation said the South and West of the country are relatively calm and quiet with people busy doing their normal business as well as the North and West part of the country. He urged Sierra Leoneans to be law-abiding.