The main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) has said in Freetown that no amount ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) intimidation and harassments can scared them from carrying out their political campaign activities in the country.
The opposition party made the statement following the APC National Secretary General Lansana Dumbuya Esq, Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, other party members and supporters were attacked on 22nd February 2022, at checkpoint opposite the Presidential Lodge and National Telecommunication Authority on Regent Road, Hill Station Freetown.
Speaking to journalists during a news conference hosted at the APC National Secretariat on 11A Railway Line, Brookfields in Freetown, the APC National Deputy Secretary General, Hon. Osman Abdal Timbo said no intimidation, harassment, arrests and bullying can scared the APC party.
Hon. Timbo emphasised that Sierra Leoneans know exactly what the June 24th election is all about, adding that with such intimidation from the ruling SLPP Government the APC will surely take up power through democratic means.
“We vehemently condemn all the acts of violence, harassment and gross human rights abused meted by state security force against our party members,” he said.
He stated that they received reports of violence and unprovoked physical attacks on the APC Secretary General Lansana Dumbuya and his, driver and security personnel of the Mayor of Freetown as well as other party members and supporters.
“We are yet to locate some of our supporters who were manhandled by presidential guards and some of our vehicle seized have not yet been retrieve from them”, he said, adding that some of their party supporters were beaten in Calaba Town in the east of Freetown by the police who bundle them in truck. Their whereabouts to date remain unknown.
Hon Timbo explained that the conduct of the state security is not good for the democratic process, thus called on the Chief of Defence Staff of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces, the Inspector General of Police and National Coordinator of the Office of National Security to investigate the acts of violence, harassment and gross human rights abused and bring the perpetrators to book. He added that the APC is also calling on President Bio and his Government to condemn such acts and facilitate the swift investigation.
