By Mabinty M. Kamara
Following a spate of armed robberies in Port Loko, President Julius Maada Bio has assured the people of the northwestern district of his determination to ensure their security.
President Bio made this assurance at the unveiling of the first all-girls’ school in Port Loko Town on Thursday, following an outpouring of pleas by local authorities for enhanced security in the district.
Section Chief of Bakieh Loko Chiefdom, Chief Malappy Tarawalie, who is also the Chiefdom Speaker, whiles applauding the president and Mercury International for the construction of the school and for their development drive in the district, appealed to the government to address the security issues in the city which he said was a major concern for the people.
“The unavailability of transport facility for the security personnel to be patrolling the city and the low number of security personnel have hindered their capacity to protect lives and properties, thereby leaving the masses at the mercy of the armed robbers,” he said.
There have been a lot of accounts in the last few months of people losing their lifelong investment in the hands of armed robbers in the district. One of them, Aminata Bangura, a poultry farmer, who is also the Women’s leader in the chiefdom, shared her experience with Politico on the sidelines of the school inauguration event. She said her poultry shelter was broken into one night and all the birds and other valuables in the store taken away by the robbers.
When she reported the matter to the police, they assured her of investigation. She was waiting for word from the police when news broke of her mother-in-law fallen victim of the robbers. She said they broke into her house took away her valuables and money.
Speaking on the appeal of the residents, President Bio suggested the idea of military invention but warned of the possible unintended consequences of deploying the military.
“You have been asking for security for a long time now. But we do not want to bring the military here because many a time, people have complained that the soldiers are not easy going. But it seems things have gone out of hands,” the President said as he addressed the people at the inauguration of the school on Thursday.
He noted that while the people have requested for a barracks, it didn’t make sense that already Port Loko had a barracks which is situated in the airport town of Lungi.
Bio however assured that his government will looking to empowering the police for them to do their job.
“The police are doing a great job but they are not much empowered. We will look at what to do because, again, that is why we encourage people to pay their taxes, because even the military you cannot just send few personnel here,” he said, adding: “You have to ensure that they have a place to sleep, food to eat and other things to encourage them so that they can do more.”
President Bio went on: “Security is a problem. I have heard this quite a lot. We will discuss and see what we can do to address indiscipline, lawlessness and the insecurity that you are faced with.”
Port Loko resident Salaimatu Kargbo later told Politico that the situation of armed robbery in the community was worrisome, noting that she was happy that the President had committed to addressing the issue.
“When it’s about to be dark in Port Loko, we are now afraid because we don’t know which area or house will be the next target. It has been as if we don’t have any police in this town. But I am happy about what the President has said. It will be good for us to bring soldiers here because they don’t take nonsense,” she said.
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