The Sierra Leone Police addresses the APCβs demands for the release of their detained supporters.
Prior to the main opposition party, the All People’s Congress, meeting with the International moral guarantors on October 15th, 2024, the party requested for a presence of security personnel to preserve Law and Order during the process. During the event, grassroots supporters of the party hoisted placards seeking electoral justice for the irregularities in the June 2023 election, prompting the Sierra Leone police to arrest protesters.
In this regard, the APC conveyed an open letter to the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Williams Sellu, urging that the rule of law be upheld since the detainees have exceeded the 72-hour detention period without trial or release as required by law.
The APC letter accuses the government of meddling in its members’ prolonged detention.They further levied a serious allegation against the government and the police, claiming that they are attempting to aggravate the situation.
The APC further stated that this is in violation of Resolution 4 of the peace accord agreed by the government and the main opposition, which specifies that political detainees should be released and prevention of additional political imprisonment.
In response, in an interview with Liberty Online TV, Assistant Superintendent of Police Mohamed Bobson Senu, the Deputy Head of Media for Sierra Leone Police, stated that the police are not under any government pressure to carry out their duty. ASP Bobson Senu added that the police arrested a total number of 28 suspects for various riot offences under the Public Order Act, all of whom were later freed.
ASP concluded that they acted within the scope of the law and not on the influence of any third party.