By- Aruna Rashed Toma Bangura
There have been numerous and calls for concern by the general citizenry about the looming and appalling national security threats and those that are charged with the responsibility to provide national and impartial security for the state.The general citizenry is being flabbergasted to see videos making the rounds on social media about highly intoxicated state security personnel after smoking Kush or synthetic Marijuana. These videos have since then raised public eyebrows about the indiscipline and professional misconducts of state security apparatus ahead of the multi-tier election slated for June 24th 2023.
The general citizenry are wondering that if the police who are expected to curtail the excessive intake, misuse and abuse of these narcotic drugs, are highly involved in taking these substances then who should protect the lives and properties of the citizenry in times of violence or crisis.
The security forces must be professional with no iota of misconduct and doubt during and after their call of duty, and must be seen refraining from all bad and unethical habits or misbehaviours emanating from public speculations of them being under the high influence of drugs.
As the June 24th 2023 multitier election is just around the corner there should be a joint communiqué between the security sector including the Office of National Security in a bid to restore public trust and confidence in the Sierra Leone Police and the Republic Sierra Leone Armed Forces must ensure the public safety and security, axing drug addicts out of the service.
The Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) Peter K. Lavahun and the Inspector General of Police, William Fayia Sellu should collaboratively work in making ensure that the crème de la crème of these forces are carefully selected to ensure that there are no professional misconduct, violence from the security sector before, during and after the polls.
The Minister of Internal Affairs, David Maurice Panda-Noah and the Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh who doubles as Chairman for the Police Council must ensure that recruited police personnel are restricted from handling riffle but batons or “koboko” during electioneering campaigns, rallies and on polling day which if not controlled will create a room for chaos as most of them will ended up conducting themselves unprofessionally.
The phobia of the general public is to make the Minister of Internal Affairs ensure that appropriate measures are put in place to make sure that our security personnel conduct themselves properly by refraining from all narcotic abuse and fully well secure the lives and properties of the citizens not just those in high in places.
