“The police never used live bullets to quell down riots or protests in Makeni and its environs since I took over the Northeast Region. We only used tear gas canisters. We arrested defaulters and charged them to court for protesting without approval from the Inspector General of Police, William Fayia Sellu,” the Regional Police Commander, Northeast, Assistant Inspector General of Police – AIG Aiah Edward Samadia over the weekend told FORUMNEWS-SL.COM in an exclusive interview at his Mena Hill office in Makeni.

He said when he took over the Region in May 2023, he examined the socio economic, cultural and political situation which he noted informed him how to police there.

AIG Aiah Edward Samadia said: “I did feasibility study of activities that took place in the recent past including the skirmishes over the generator saga and the August 10, 2022, incident to see the approach I will adopt in policing the region.”

He lauded the police and military officers and other sister forces for their cooperation, collaboration and support before, during and after the June 24 Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Council elections.

“We did a show of strength alongside RSLAF and other sister forces peaching peace and nonviolence messages to the people in all the seven Police Divisions in the Northeast Region. We also embarked on community engagements to inform the people to stay away from violence and work together for the peace and stability of the entire country,” AIG Samadia said. He pointed out that his administration provided the required leadership to robustly police the elections, adding that despite some isolated incidents, they policed the entire electioneering process in a very peaceful manner. He also lauded the people of Makeni and its environs for their collaboration to ensure the peaceful elections. He called on everybody to abide by the law, adding that there are several ways to register their grievances rather than resorting to violence.

AIG Samadia disclosed that the crime rate in the Region has drastically reduced to ebb and the situation is relatively calm and quiet as people are going about their normal businesses unhindered.