By Chernor Alimamy Kamara
A Civic Funeral for six Police Officers killed during the August 10 protests in parts of the country was yesterday held at the Police Training School in Hastings. The remains of the men were later laid to rest at the nearby cemetery after full honours.
President Julius Maada Bio who attended the mass funeral told the families of the fallen officers and other mourners how sad a day in the history of Sierra Leone, to give last respect to the victims of the violence, following the brutal attack on the peace and democracy of the country.
He said for nearly two decades, Sierra Leoneans thought violence was completely taken away but noted: “That fateful day, the 10th of August was a reminder of the history we wish we will never live to go through again, and it also reminded us that the forces of evil are still present”.
He highlighted that, there are people who are equally determined to disturb the peace for which the “fine gentle men have died”. He said those individuals that protested have not hidden their plans, noting that it was open, widely discussed and it was, and still supported by individuals he referred to as political entrepreneurs.
He went on to say that those protesters have no interest in the people of this country.
The President pointed out that, the only crime those fine officers that died during the protest committed was to keep the people and properties safe. “That is the crime for which they lost their lives, after making supreme sacrifice for the country that they love,” said President Bio.
He stressed his government deliberately chose the new direction as a tool to depart from the old direction of violence and corruption so that the people will be empowered and be part of that process of development. He said that things may be difficult at the moment, noting that as Sierra Leone being part of the world,it cannot escape the difficulties that every nation is experiencing.
“It is our duty as a government to provide to make sure that the impact of the global crisis is cushioned and I want to assure this nation that this is just what we have been doing and will continue to do,” he said.
He said the government has spent over 1.6 trillion Leones old currency in trying to save Sierra Leoneans from the adverse effects of the many evolving and multiplying crisis in the international system.
The President referred to protesters of August 10th as enemies of the state whose only duties he said were to undo all the gains of the past 20 years. He implored Sierra Leoneans to keep the peace, be united, stay quiet and calm and go about their business.
“We will investigate and take to task all those who have committed these horrendous crime,” he vowed.
Nana Barrie who gave tribute on behalf of all the bereaved families stated that, all the police officers that lost their lives were a pride to their families and whose dreams she said were shattered on the 10th August. She said the families of the officers that were killed were all devastated
She recalled growing up together with her uncle Osman Fofana (one of the murdered officers), in the same house , and with the same opportunity. She said her uncle served the police force for 20 years where he excelled greatly before he met his tragic demise.
She said he left two sons who have become orphans as she said the boys lost their mother two years back. She prayed for the souls of the departed officers to rest in perfect peace.
President Bio, First Lady Fatima Bio, Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh and Inspector General of Police Fayia Sellu were among those who laid wreaths beside the coffins of the officers draped in the colours of the national flag.
Two of the officers Supt.Osman Fofanah, Sergeant Tommy Munda were killed in Kamakwie, while Constable Abu Bakarr Turay got slain in Makeni. Sergeant Desmond Hanciles, Constable Charles E.K. Smart and Sergeant Ibrahim Jalloh were killed in Freetown.
The violence was only concentrated in parts of the east of Freetown, Magburaka, Makeni, Tintafor in Lungi and Kamakwie. Barricades were set alongside burning tires, and Government buses and Police stations vandalized or burnt. Over twenty civilians were also killed in riots over what the protesters say was the rising cost of living in the country.President Bio said it was an insurrection by people he called “terrorists”.
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