The Sierra Leone Police have declared Joseph Septimus Marlon Saffa, Mohamed Turay, Foday Kaloko, Mariatu Kamara. Santigie Kamara, Emmanuel Thomas, Theresa Conteh, Abdulai Kanu Festus Conteh, Abass Koroma, Emmanuel Cole, Abdulai Gbla, Ramatulai Sesay, Alie Bangura others wanted for allegedly masterminding the August 10, 2022, protest in Freetown.
The Chief Commissioner of Police described the protest as a deliberate attempt to tarnish the government’s image both locally and internationally.
While protesters claimed the demonstration was due to economic mismanagement and the harassment of opposition members, the police allege the protest aimed to unseat the government. The Chief Commissioner has urged citizens to assist in locating the 23 individuals on the wanted list. He also warned against any interference with the investigation.
In response, Mr. Sidi Yayah Tunis, spokesman for the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC), criticized the police notice, describing it as a calculated effort to target opposition members. Tunis asserted that most of the individuals named are APC members who had no involvement in the protest. He claimed their only “crime” was publicly criticizing the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) government’s handling of the economy and opposition arrests. Tunis urged the police not to be used as a tool for political witch-hunts.
Meanwhile, families of the wanted individuals have reported attacks on their homes by alleged SLPP supporters. Some claimed they were beaten in front of law enforcement officers and other security forces, who did nothing to intervene.
The Minister of Information, dismissed these allegations, emphasizing that the ruling SLPP party upholds freedom of expression and association. He maintained that the police are targeting only those who participated in the protest, which resulted in significant loss of lives and properties. The Minister of Information called on the APC party to stop undermining police investigations.
Despite attempts to contact any of the protesters listed, no responses have been received. Families of the wanted individuals continue to live in fear due to alleged intimidation and threats by political thugs.
