Police declare Ibrahim Jalloh Wanted

By Salhaj Ballop Kamara

Sierra Leone Police has declared Ibrahim Jalloh of 292b Bai Bureh Road, Calaba Town, East End of Freetown wanted on allegation of incitement, unlawful gathering and protest in August 10 this year within the locality of Calaba Town axis.
Jalloh, a resident of Calaba Town town, East of Freetown, narrowly escaped mob justice at the hands of angry SLPP youths, who descended at his home on the 12th of August , few days after the August 10 protest identifying people they claimed to have a hand in the protest. The reason for that according to some SLPP supporters , they claimed Ibrahim Jalloh is a member of the Opposition APC and also a closed friend of another APC social media member Evangelist Samson who is known by his biological name as Ibrahim Dumbuya. Some SLPP supporters alleged that Ibrahim Jalloh has been spotted on many occassions with Evangelish Sampson at Congo Wata in the eastern part of Freetown known to be Sampson’s residence. Ibrahim’s residence at calaba Town also in the eastern part of Freetown is than a mile to that of the place of Sampson at Congo Wata. They also accused him as one among those who planned the August 10 protest.
The August 10 Protest saw Hundreds of thousands of youths stormed the eastern part of Freetown shouting the slogan “President Julius Maada Bio must go”. They were protesting against the rising cost of goods in the country and expressing frustration with bad governance, harassment, and political intimidation by the government. Government and private offices were unable to open for work, as business places were looted, ransacked, and destroyed. Police Stations were also not spared, as supplies of bags of rice, motorcycles, and others items were stolen by youths who were angrily protesting against the ruling SLPP-led government of President Julius Maada Bio.
The youths ensured that there were blockades on every main street or corner leading to the highway. Commercial and private vehicles were prevented from plying the streets, and if caught, drivers of those vehicles trying to bypass the blockages were at risk of being killed, irrespective of their gender. Ibrahim Jalloh, according to our source, is a member of the Opposition APC. Some SLPP supporters who spoke to this medium said Jalloh has been spotted on many occassion making unfavorable statements against the ruling SLPP led government of President Julius Maada Bio. Some accused him of using pseudo names on social media attacking the president. During the day of the protest, an SLPP Member told the police that Ibrahim Jalloh was spotted along Portee junction, where a police officer was beaten to death by angry youths. He attempted to rescue the stranded officer, denouncing the way and manner the officer was being treated, when he became a target. Some of the youths rushed at him and gave him dirty slaps, but one of his friends, who was part of the angry protesters, managed to help him escape from the scene. After two days, his photos was among those declared wanted by the police. His whereabouts remained unknown as we go to press.
The government, in a press statement, described the protesters as ” terrorists”. Two days after the situation returned to calm, there was massive arrest of suspected protesters, with over five hundred people detained in different detention centers across the country.
Civil Society Organizations have expressed grave concern about the manner of the arrest. They claimed that the police were working with SLPP supporters identifying people who have nothing to do with the August 10 protest.
The August 10 protest was bloody, battle-tested, and is known to be very bad in the history of Sierra Leone.
Police spokesman Brima Kamara said all those declared wanted have case to answer. He refuted allegation that the police was working on political witch hunt pointing that as police officers all they want is foe citizens to abide by the laws of the land. There are laws governing our land. We did not issue permit for people to protest and all those who took part actively in that protest will face the law.
Sierra Leone 1991 constitution does not requires for police permit for citizens to protest. The laws only makes provision for the police to provide security in an event a group or organisations want to embark on protest. Successive governments have been using the police to always clamp down on peaceful citizens by silencing dissecting voices. This has been the case with past and current government. Current President Julius Maada Bio while in opposition outrightly condemned the previous APC led government of President Ernest Bai Koroma on similar grounds. Today he is seen doing exactly what he used to condemned especially when he is President. Ibrahim Jalloh’s case is similar to many others who have crying for justice. Sierra Leone Justice System still remained the same. Some of the concerns expressed as responsible for the 11 year civil was blamed on the dispensation of Justice and the police,judiciary and other authorities were indicted as stated in the country’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Reports.
The August 10 protest has left many dead and some families still not known the whereabouts of their loved ones.