By Alpha Abu
One Police officer has been placed into custody and four others dismissed from the force after a disciplinary hearing lasting several weeks, concluded its report into the killing of Alpha Kargbo popularly known as Wandada in April at Hastings village during a confrontation with the Police at a disputed land site.
The officer who reportedly pulled the trigger, PC 9892 Alimamy Foday Yillah was dismissed from service and detained. He faces multiple charges including discharging firearms without any just cause. He also shares with the other four culpable officers, charges of lacking civility, improper practice, failing to assist any person injured or taken ill, failing to comply with any standing order issued by the IGP, and prejudice of good order and discipline. The officers who were let go but lost their jobs are: Festus Jebor Sherrington, Abdul Sesay, Joseph John Patrick Bangura and Rebecca Bisodu Douglas.
The announcement on Monday 21 June 2021 of the Police decision is a major shift from past actions by the Police over the years in which shooting of civilians had hardly seen punitive measures taken against suspected officers.
Speaking to Politico, Police deputy spokesman Assistant Superintendent Samuel Sao Conteh explained that they have, as a force, dealt with the matter administratively based on their disciplinary code of conduct.
He said the civilians are at the service of the Police and that they should have “fine interaction” with the people to win their trust and confidence. ASP Conteh stated that the Hastings killing brought a lot of criticisms against the Police. He said the officers got a fair trial at the “Police-court”, which he said was witnessed by relatives of the victim and the general public. Woman Police officer Douglas was said to have led a team of Police from the Operational Support Division to the contested land she wanted full possession of. The victim was said to have asked that the phone of his brother seized by one of the officers be returned. Instead, reports claimed he was shot. Kargbo was then taken to the hospital by his family members and community people but died hours later.
The incident on the 15 April 2021 caused national outrage and sparked serious disturbances at Hastings that saw youths running riot and blocking roads with burning tyres. They engaged the Police in running battles that then had to fire tear gas in a bid to restore order.
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