The Independent Police Complaints Board (IPCB) has on Monday commenced preliminary investigations into the conduct of police personnel involved in quelling the Makeni riot which led to the killing of five young men.
IPCB said in a statement on Monday that “the attention of the Independent Police Complaints Board (IPCB) has been drawn to fracas between some residents of Makeni City and security forces, including personnel of the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) allegedly resulting in the discharge of firearms killing five (5) members of the civil populace and some others severely left wounded on Saturday 18th July, 2020 in Makeni City, Bombali District.”
It is reported that some residents took to the streets to protest and prevent an attempt by the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA) to temporarily relocate a 1.65 Mega Watts Thermal generator to Lungi Town in Port Loko District.
As provided for under Regulation 3 (1) (c) of the IPCB Regulations, 2013, the IPCB is mandated to investigate, among others, “a shooting incident where a police officer has discharged a firearm or killed a person.”
IPCB said the public will be duly informed as their investigation progresses.
The IPCB put out the statement after members of Parliament representing constituencies in Bombali district demanded an immediate Investigation into what they described as “the Needless Killing of Protesters in Makeni.”
“We are particularly disturbed by, and we expressly deplore the (unprovoked) use of excessive and disproportionate lethal force by police and military personnel against unarmed protesters exercising their civic rights,” the Members of parliament said in a joint statement.
“Noting with grave concern the allegation that the police made certain arrests of individuals from their houses, we hereby caution the police to be humane and respectful of the rights of individuals in their custody and not to subject them to torture and ill treatment. We also hereby remind Security Personnel that as per their statutory responsibility in any democratic state, they are bound to defend and protect the lives and properties of citizens,” they said.
The eight members of Parliament said, “We the Members of Parliament (MPs) from Bombali district condemn, in the strongest of terms, the violence that took place in Makeni city from Friday 17th to Saturday 18th July, 2020, which has led to the needless loss of lives and destruction of property.”
Regarding the critical prior public engagement, they believe that if there was proper and adequate dialogue with and sensitization of the community, there would have been residents of Makeni would have understood the rationale for government to relocate the city’s backup generator to another region. They added that such thorough engagement would have ensured everybody’s participation in Makeni, a city which they said has always been peaceful.
“In view of this, we the MPs from Bombali further express disappointment with what we believe was the Ministry of Energy’s insensitivity to the situation regarding the rush and odd time (late night of 17th July 2020) that the officials (from EDSA) went to remove the 1.65 Mega Watts backup generator from the electricity station in Makeni. Such rush and odd timing only fed into the suspicion created by the lack of adequate stakeholders’ and community engagement on the issue.”
The MPs called on the people of Makeni City to continue to be peaceful as usual and implored the full attention of National and International human rights organizations to the killing which they further described as a most unacceptable loss of lives and maiming of protesters.
“Meanwhile we urge the SLPP Government of President Julius Maada Bio to promptly institute an independent, impartial and effective inquiry into that violent siege on Makeni city and to ensure that perpetrators face the full force of the law,” they said.
While we await justice, fairness and accountability, they extend their profound condolences to the bereaved families for the loss of their loved ones and wished speedy recovery to those with injuries.
The Members of Parliament who signed the statement include, Hon. Sallieu O. Sesay – Constituency 038; Hon. Dr. Mark Mahmoud Kalokoh Constituency – 032; Hon. Catherine Zainab Tarawally – Constituency 037; Hon. Peter Yamba Koroma – Constituency 033; Hon. Ibrahim Ben Kargbo – Constituency 034; Hon. Manuel Alieu Koroma – Constituency 036; Hon. Paul Samba Conteh – Constituency 035; and Hon. John Charles Conteh – Constituency 031
By Sallieu S. Kanu
21/07/2020. ISSUE NO.: 7870