By Ragan M. Conteh
Hon. Emilia Lolloh Tongi, an Independent Member of Parliament representing Constituency 001, Kailahun District, eastern Sierra Leone, is worried over an alleged Guinean invasion into her Constituency
The Hon MP said, at the well of Parliament last Friday, that she has been notified by her constituents about over thirty (30) unknown gunmen who have forcefully entered into Sierra Leonean territory from the Republic of Guinea.
The Independent female MP told Parliament that she had alerted the Minister of Internal Affairs, who, according to her, snubbed her concerns
Hon Tongi added that all the negative experiences, that had hugely affected the country, have emanated from Kailahun District, especially Constituency 001, citing the rebel war and Ebola.
The borders of Sierra Leone, according to the MP, are porous and challenged in terms of security, adding that the war and the Ebola were cases that seriously exposed Sierra Leone’s inability to defend its borders.
Hon. Tongi also expressed her concern over the influx of people in and out of her Constituency unchecked.
The MP admonished the Ministries of Internal Affairs, Health and Local Government to work with Members of Parliament to take action to prevent COVID-19 into the borders of Sierra Leone.
Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, Lahai Lawrence Lema, while responding, disclosed that they have prepared a budget, which has already been submitted to the Ministry of Finance to undertake surveillance across the country, especially in the boarder communities.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs, he added, is responsible for the internal security of the state and that the Ministry is looking at the possibility of advising the President to invoke Section 29 of the 1991 Constitution. This provision has to do with the declaration of a health State of Emergency.
The Minister also spoke on the zest by the Government, especially his Ministry, to heighten border security especially during the fight against COVID-19.