By: Mohamed Sahr
In an effort to uphold the long-existing peace and calmness the country has been enjoying, Sierra Leone Police has updated the public about recording a peaceful June 24th multi-tier election. This was done at the Police Headquarters in Freetown on Tuesday 11th July.
Mohamed Brima Jah Esq, Director of Operation for the Sierra Leone Police felt honoured about the outcome of the just concluded general elections through the joint operations from the Republic of Sierra Leone Arm Forces (RSLAF) and the Office of the National Security (ONS). He said that even though there were challenges they maintained their professionalism to its core at every quarter across the country.
“Over 97% of the electioneering environments were relatively calm and quiet,” Brima Jah Esq said.
He thanked the security sectors, media for inclining their collective conduct and professionalism throughout the entire process. The director of Operation said for the first time in the history of Sierra Leone the police did not cease the movement of vehicles in and out of the country during the elections period. He urged members of the public to be law abiding and continue to enjoy the line of respect as well as the peace emblem of Sierra Leone instead of embarking on riotous conduct.
Sylvester Koroma, Assistant Inspector General of Police and Regional Police Commander Freetown-West said the SLP would remain proactive in maintaining immense peace and equally keep the pride above their weight. He emphasized that the accolade accorded to them by other cooperate institutions would serve as a work-in-progress and gainful jihad across the nation.
“My region is generally peaceful and I assure you of sticking to the course of the game,” AIG Koroma said.
He called on Sierra Leoneans to always make use of the police-free toll line “933” for any issues of interventions when necessary. AIG Koroma said the Sierra Leone Police would continue to mount checkpoints at various places within the country, and they assured of maintaining post-election situations in different communities.
Dr. John Martin Senesie, Assistant Commissioner of Police and Regional Police Commander Freetown-East said the SLP’s support towards leading the electioneering process was never a surprise but teamwork and collaborative efforts from other security sectors. He furthered that there had been stringent checkpoint duties ongoing across all quarters.
“We are embarking on raids and sensitization campaigns in various communities and the youths with regards to the reduction of the intake of harmful drugs,” ACP Senesie added.
Francis Hazeley, Director of Infrastructure for the Sierra Leone Police said the SLP had made rapid improvement, particularly in the construction and maintenance of facilities in the country. He noted that the SLP had recently housed a conductive police post at American Embassy as well as the constructed Intensive Care Unit at Kingtom for easy medical healthcare services.
Edward Kotor Kamara, Chief Inspector and Media Officer for the Traffic Division at Central Police Secretariat said they had begun to engage motorbike riders and tricycle riders for both Freetown and provinces in order to avoid plying the Central Business District (CBD). He revealed that the Director of Traffic had a courtesy visit to Bo and Kenema in order to address traffic personnel to be always disciplined on and off duty, courteously dress well, behave to the best of their professionalism to members of the public, take note of on-the-spot incidents or actions and investigate major issues.
Media officers from the Kenema region, Northeast and Northwest regions reported that there was relative peace within their various locations though there were a few challenges, especially in the post-elections period.
