Questions about the safety of Sierra Leone are coming up after five very senior Police officers have been asked to lay kits. Assistant inspectors-General (AIG) Karrow Kamara, Kalia Sesay, Mohamed Kargbo aka SIZEMAN, Chief Superintendent Mohamed Turay aka YETE YETE were unceremoniously asked to leave.
It was also widely reported that the former Deputy Inspector-General of Police, FUK Daboh left the force owing to pressure. This press laid hands on no evidence as to whether the dismissals followed established police procedure.
The Police Discipline Regulations, 2001 stipulates conditions in which a police officer could be either sacked or struck off-strength. Evidence has shown that none of the procedures were followed.
It was alleged that the police officers were dismissed on whims and caprices of the New Direction Government. It also unclear whether the dismissed police officers have got either their benefit or other privileges that due them. It has almost become a routine in the Sierra Leone Police that whenever government changes, face of the police changes.
But, the New Direction Government has embarked on the highest spree of sacking than any other government in post-independence Sierra Leone. Their sackings have left tongues wagging about whether it was a revenge or the beginning of a new form of politics in Sierra Leone. Investigation mounted by this press indicated that those officers who were dismissed from the police service have exhibited professionalism throughout their police career.
AIG Karrow Kamara is a police officer of good years standing. He has held various command positions in the police force, and made a loud name in the Criminal Investigations Department. AIG Kamara has championed high profile criminal investigations that made the police proud.
During his police career, he served mostly in the south and eastern regions of Sierra Leone.
He was the Local Unit Commander, Bo Division for a considerable period. Throughout his stay in Bo Division, crime was put at an appreciable level. AIG Kamara also significantly policed incidents of armed robbery in the eastern headquaters of Kenema where he served as regional police commander.
AIG Kalia Sesay was also one of the finest senior police officers the force can take pride in. When he was Chief Superintendent of Police, AIG Sesay was the Local Needs Policing Advisor in the Sierra Leone Police.
Suffice it to say he acted as a liaison between Sierra Leone Police and the United Nations Civilian Police (CIVPOL). CIVPOL were police officers that came under the Community Safety and Security Project to restructure the Sierra Leone Police after the war (1991-2002).
CIVPOL worked in partnership with the United Nations Assistant Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL).
They rely, most times, on AIG Kalia Sesay to guide them on the local needs policing style also known as community policing. AIG Sesay was also part of a team that authored the Back-To-Basics document which show the type of policing for Sierra Leone when UN CIVPOL and UNAMSIL would have left.
He has been a very humble and professional police officer throughout his police career.
Until his dismissal the previous year, He was in charge of peace-keeping operations in the Sierra Leone. Mohamed Turay aka YETE YETE, despite his inability to darken the walls of a university, has no equal in the police force in terms of police operations.
His stature alone could ward off rioters who may want to foment trouble in any part of the country.
YETE YETE served the southern region as Regional Commander of the Operations Support Division. He worked tirelessly to see that peace prevailed in that part of the country.
He is a man who, on several occasions, had sacrificed his safety for the nation’s common good. On several occasions, he would be hired to face buffaloes (bush cows) when the villagers’ safety is at stake.
Apart from those contributions, YETE YETE could be credited for risking his safety to liberate officials of SLPP (Sierra Leone People’s Party) Government of Tejan Kabba.
At a time when SLPP Government then was falling apart, he withstood the tactics of the armed combatants.
Late Vice President, Solomon Ekuma Berewa was one of the government officials he saved. More research would be done on the remaining senior police officers who have been axed. It goes without saying that the dismissed police officers are key strategists that the state can rely on to maintain the peace and security of the state.
Sings are already clear that 2023 elections would not be an easy ride as the youths are full of grudge and venom to spit. Threats are coming from different sectors of the country that they are determined at all cost to vote out tyranny through the ballot box.
The youths highlighted a lot of human rights abuse and violations under this government than any other government in Sierra Leone.
They are determined to see the back of the New Direction Government out of power through the polls.
Who would strategise to save the country after peace would have been lost?