By: Precious Miracle Kargbo (Intern)
The office of National Security (ONS), on restructuring and reinstating peace in the environment, community and the Sierra Leonean society as a whole publicly declared that Sierra Leone is back to normalcy following the illegal and unauthorized protest action on September 11th 2023 and strongly assures every Sierra Leonean of a peaceful and stable environment onwards.
Media person attached to the office of National Security. Mr. Will made this statement at a press conference held in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs earlier last week.
Mr. Will said the office of National Security has conducted series of engagement to members of the public on numerous occasions just to ensure that every citizen is well abreast with the day to day security roles, rule of law and other functions in the state. He added that the main reason is to engage citizens to be aware of their rights and to always project the sense of patriotism and responsible citizenship.
He emphasized that there have been several consultations and partnership with other ministries such as Sierra Leone Road Transport Cooperation, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, private sectors, companies, members of various communities, Kekeh riders, Okada riders and drivers on their need to be absolutely peaceful and refrain from all form of violence.
He further that the security media team has also completed their activity of sensitization to the fourth estate, and ensuring that their message is not limited to the western but to the entire country. Will furthers that as a very integrating sector they have made outreach with the media to ensure that media practitioners are well abreast of the whole situation and publish enticing, peaceful and encouraging news to the public.
Mr. Will informed the audience that during the outbreak of the said protest the only incident that was reported was in the Moyeba Community which is currently under investigation by the ONS. “A full scale investigation has been launched and we are looking closely to see what really caused that issue at the Moyeba community”
He vouched that the Office of National Security will continue to promote its mandate in ensuring that the security of the state is well structured to protect the lives and properties of every Sierra Leonean in the country.
He also applauded civil society organizations who have been working tirelessly to preach peace to the public, together with the Minister of Internal Affairs who has worked to ensure that the peace and stability is ensured in the country.
Meanwhile, he admonished and warned all those that are in the habit of developing and spreading inciting statements that undermines the security sector of the country and by doing so they destroy the peaceful state in the country. He also advised all citizens that are in the act of involving into violence activities because of inciting statements by faceless inciters and urges them to think about their lives, families and the country before involving in such act.
“All suspects that have been arrested for staging the unauthorized protest and according to the investigations of the Sierra Leone Police those that have not been founded guilty has been released whilst those that suspect are helping with ongoing investigations by the security sector”, he intimated.
He said ONS maintains an open door policy which creates an open environment for all citizens to make their complaints and request. He ended by encouraging all Sierra Leoneans to work and obey the ambits of the law and to refrain from all illegal activities so that Sierra Leone will be a safer place for everyone.
