By Prince J Musa in Kenema
Stakeholders in Kenema District have in a meeting on Monday 27th November agreed to effect community by-laws as measures following the security breaches in Freetown leading to the release of prisoners in two correctional centres in Freetown.
Addressing the local authorities in the district, the Resident Minister East, Gbessay Jusu Jaka Ngobeh said the recent incident on Sunday 26th November this year has put the country in a state of insecurity with hundreds of ‘hardcore’ criminals forcefully freed.
The Resident Minister said as a government, they cannot alone succeed in providing security for all the collective participation of the local authorities in the process by implementing local bye-laws in their communities. He used the opportunity to brief the authorities about measures put in place after the Freetown security breach and that together with the Commissioner of Police East, Mayor, District Council Chairman, and Head of Civil Society, they were able to visit all the entry checkpoints in order to beef up security in those strategic areas.
Paramount Chief of Nongowa Chiefdom, Sadique Kapuwa on behalf of the sixteen chiefdoms stated they will fully support decisions taken to protect the district. He said they will be reintroducing their old traditional laws to make sure all the Chiefdoms and Kenema district as a whole remain safe and secure.
He admonished all sub-chiefs, town chiefs, and area chiefs to enforce the local bylaws and that any infringement on those laws without action by chiefs would be punished. He advised citizens to give peace a chance instead of doing things that would lead to instability for the poor Sierra Leonean.
The Mayor of Kenema City, Thomas Karim Baio called on the people to be united as they are expecting the authorities to take the lead in their protection but they too should have modalities to protect people in the various communities.
Sierra Leone is recovering from the shocks of security breaches that took place at Wilberforce Barracks and the two Correctional Centres in Freetown in the early hours of Sunday 26th November leading to a battle between loyal state security personnel and the attackers. Investigation into the issues is ongoing.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (01/12/23)
