Residents in the North-eastern capital of Makeni have never breathed a sigh of relief after SLPP (Sierra Leone People’s Party) came to power in 2018. They can breathe only the smell of teargas, gun-powder and smoke from burnt tires on the streets, houses and cars.
Physical violence, arrest and threats of mass arrest are albatrosses around the necks of the people of Makeni including local authorities. A credible source in Makeni has intimated this press that a team of police officers constantly raid and arrest residents for what they referred to as electricity theft and illegal connections.
Those arrested, according to the source, are in custody waiting to be arraigned. He said the suspects were not granted bail although the offences were bailable. The arrested persons might also not be granted bail in court when they appear.
A resident in Makeni, Rugiatu Kamara says government’s action is a ploy to oppress the people of Makeni and nothing else. Even if electricity theft takes place in Makeni, it also takes place in the southern and eastern capitals of Bo and Kenema.
“Why can’t the police arrest residents in those communities?” Madam Kamara wonders. She also accuses the Bio administration of creating conditions for the illegal connections. She said throughout the leadership of former President, Makeni has always seen bright light.
Makeni started struggling for electricity when SLPP took over power. Through the change of transformers by government, electricity in Makeni has never been the same.
“Electricity is now being rationed, and most homes could go for days without,” Madam Kamara told this press. She went on to state that the absence of electricity in Makeni is a blunder on the part of government. The current raids and mass arrests going on in Makeni portrays SLPP Government as one that has embarked on a campaign of widespread terror and oppression in the home of the former President.
The terror campaign is evidenced by frequent and brutal killings in the township. A common thread is seen in the violence and terror-state ignited. A chronology of recent brutal events pointed out government’s propensity to kill in Makeni.
In mid-July of 2020, government’s action in the transfer of a 1.65 thermal plant from Makeni to Lungi town left several people fatally injured. Official accounts put the death toll at six, but witnesses showed a figure higher than that number.
Other residents were also physically injured and others displaced. Makeni residents met their deaths and injuries when they resisted EDSA (Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority) workers from taking the electricity generator away.
Women were the most vulnerable since they could not withstand high levels of physical violence. A reasonably high number of youths were arrested and arraigned before a magistrate Court in Freetown.
They are currently held in prison for riotous conduct, disorderly behaviour and related offences. The offences are also bailable but bail has been granted to none. The youths may not see the light of day until the close of trials.
As if the arrest and killings were not enough, local authorities notably Mayor of Makeni municipality was threatened with an arrest. Mayor Sunkarie Kamara was accused of bearing a hand in the riots.
The allegations were completely baseless, but were used to justify government’s sustained oppression in the northern capital. A government press release signed by the Minister of Information and Communication at the height of the bloodshed did not ease tension during the carnage in Makeni.
The release showed government’s determination to embark on further brutal crackdown for any flare-ups of resistance.
The release signalled a sustained government’s oppression in Makeni to instil fear in already panic-stricken residents. Another resident in Makeni, Mohamed Mansaray also condemned the violence at that time.
Kamara made no mince of words when he told this press: “SLPP Government is testing waters.”
What struck other residents in Makeni city was government’s failure to investigate such incidents. When police or the army resort to unjustifiable killings government is expected to empanel a competent team of investigators to know the cause of violence and make recommendations. The aim is to prevent a recurrence of the situation.
Unlike other killings elsewhere, government did not even show remorse to the bereaved families let alone bring perpetrators to justice. As government fails to investigate, a culture of impunity reigns. Such culture is deeply ingrained in the forces of law and order, but government nurtures it.
A veteran police officer has to this press that to discharge firearm without just cause is an offence talk less of unlawful killings. A picture of Killings in Makeni was also seen in the Iron Ore mining town of Lunsar in PortLok District where youths were reportedly gunned down by trigger-happy police and soldiers during a civil disobedience.
Paramount Chief, Koblo Queen of Marampa Chiefdom was at the centre of the civil disobedience. Like residents in Makeni, Residents in Lunsar were also arrested including a former member of parliament, Osman Karankay.
Those arrested have placed on remand close to a year answering to charges of murder, Arson, malicious damage among others.
Since the violence, security situation in Lunsar has never been the same. The fear of further police and military brutality is written on the faces of the locals.
The people do not fear crime from armed robbers but armed police and army who are under oath to protect them.
Apart from the intimidation of ordinary residents in Makeni, former President Ernest Bai Koroma is a constant target for Government.
Several failed arrest attempts have been made on the former President based on politically-motivated corruption charges.
ACC (Anti-Corruption Commission) team of investigators has, on several occasions, lurked on the residence of the former President for interviews.
In one attempt, Makeni was nearly swallowed up in violence when ACC team went there to obtain statements from former President Koroma.
The resistance was too much for the ACC leaving them with no choice but to quit and invite the former President to Freetown. In all interviews, no specific offence was put to the former President making the investigation the most absurd in history.
It bore the semblance of politically motivated harassment. Government’s response owing to ACC’s failure to reach the former President was a complete disfavour to the people of Makeni.
Some important traditional rulers were arrested and locked up.
The chiefs were accused of permitting fraternities to block ACC officials. ACC’s harassment of the former President started when security details were forcefully withdrawn from him.
No reason was advanced for the withdrawal, but most Sierra Leoneans are convinced that such move is a threat to the life of the former President.
Close to a month, the former President went without security exposing him to danger. A local authority has told this press that Makeni would continue to see violence and political intimidation until SLPP Government is kicked from power in 2023.