By Henry Kargbo
The security sector in Sierra Leone has vow to invoke the Military Aide to Civil Power (MACP) during and after the June 24th general elections and thus cautioned citizens to stay away from violence across the country.
These statements were yesterday 19th April 2023 made at the ONS Conference Room on OAU Drive, Freetown, by the National Security Coordinator, Abdulia Caulker. He charged that the security sector will take drastic action against individuals who cause violent act in the June polls, reiterating that anyone who wants to demonstrate should go true the due process. He warned that if any individual go contrary to the lay down provision will face the full penalty of the law.
“Sierra Leoneans stay away from violence, don’t take the law into your hands. Follow due processes. Don’t allow another man to use your hands to remove palm kernels from a burning furnace,” he warned.
Caulker said that the security sector will be on a high alert this time around in all corners and areas of the country and will be in a different posture.
“We are saying no to people who are bent on causing trouble in the country”, he said.
The NS Coordinator said his office has noted with dismay that cutlasses are current at the disposal of youths, for which he noted has the potential to undermine the peace and security of the country and unnecessarily provoke the security sector of the state.
Caulker outline series of violent incidences that took place since the government took over the mantle of leadership, citing, Tombo where fishermen revolted against COVID19 safety health measures, Lunsar youths accused their Paramount Chief of embezzlement, Makeni, over the relocation of government generator to Lungi, Mile 91, over lawful police operations to destroy marijuana farm, the Pademba Road Prison break and August 10th faceless violent protest.
He noted that all the purported violent was evidently incited by social media trolls, the likes of Adebayor and their clandestine political godfathers. He reassured the media that government is strongly working to bring Adebayor to book because of his role in all the violent incidences mentioned above.
As a security sector, we will not relent in our sacred responsibility to maintain law and order and ensure that there is peace and tranquillity for everyone, he vowed.
For his part, the Inspector General of Sierra Leone Police, William Fayia Sellu assured the public that June elections will be peaceful across the country, adding that they have provided logistical support to the police in ensuring that the elections peaceful.
He said the SLP recently the completed sanitization campaign on nonviolence across the country, adding that they are also walking with communities through the Local Police Partnership Board in all the 36 divisions across the country to ensure that they are on the same page with us.
The Chief of Defence of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces Staff, Lieutenant General Lansana Peter Kakowou Lavahun said that the armed forces will stand ready to always support the SLP within the framework of generally enforcing MACP.
He said it was never the intention of the security sector to mount such security posture but however attributed the reason for such security posture to some satanic citizens that intent to cause violence on or before polling day, thus sounding readiness that will they are left with no option to come elections day.
