March 25, 2021
By: James Kamara-Manneh
Contrary to a video making the rounds on social media yesterday morning of a traffic Police officer who was alleged to have stolen a phone it has been proven to be false and baseless. Speaking with the media team from the Sierra Leone Police, it was revealed that the officer was on duty when he intercepted a Keke rider for violations of traffic regulations.
There was a scuffle between the officer and the Keke rider who was attempting to resist arrest. The Keke is said to have sustained some injury. On their way to rush the rider for medical attention, the Keke was again hit by an incoming vehicle. This situation stirred uproar by onlookers who framed up the Police officer with allegation of theft of mobile phone. In mob display some started assaulting the officer.
The video of the incident that went viral showed someone shouting: “look way di man e bone don comot,” (the man’s bone has come out). This is an indication that the issue in the video was not about stolen phone.
This medium is not the official mouthpiece of the Sierra Leone Police rather anything that has to do with protecting the image of this country should be the responsibility of all.
Watching the one minute thirty-six seconds video will get all any sober-minded citizen furious; seeing ordinary people hitting the Police officer in his uniform. The derogating comments by those who surrounded the Keke were the officer was seated, said “if he was my brother and such has happened to him I would have killed the Police”, another said “this is their common way of doing things they are wicked.”
This writer senses the antagonism in their voices which is very certain that anyone on that scene would have said or done the worse. Anger is inevitable within us, but should we allow ourselves to be control by such?
Nobody would wish to be hit or beaten in full view of the public no matter the gravity of the offence committed. But in recent times people are gaining pleasure in molesting, raining abuses, or describing our officers in disrespectful manner.
As the scene became more violent, the most intense occurred during a struggle to hit the innocent officer whose only offence was carrying out his duties as an officer, which caused many onlookers to assault, and almost dragged him out of the Keke.
However, Police officers are heavily tasked to protect our lives and properties under diffiuclt situations. There are bad Police but that is not a reason for gross contempt to our officers carrying the national insignia.
Speaking with Media One sometimes back, he told me that before individuals are recruited into the force they ask community people or any senior citizen within their said community to do recommendations and it is upon that most are enlisted into the force. You and I have a duty to protect the Police force by not allowing people we know with questionable characters to be recruited.
That said, the Police officers need to be respected especially when they are in their official attire.