OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

STATE HOUSE

TOWER HILL

FREETOWN

GOVERNMENT OF SIERRA LEONE

PRESS RELEASE

IT WILL BE RECALLED THAT IN THE EARLY HOURS OF FRIDAY 15TH JUNE 2012, IN THE VICINITY OF HAMILTON VILLAGE IN THE WESTERN AREA, A SHOOTING INCIDENT OCCURRED LEADING TO THE LOSS OF LIFE OF A MOTOR BIKE RIDER. GOVERNMENT AND THE SIERRA LEONE POLICE IMMEDIATELY INSTITUTED STEPS WITH A VIEW TO CLARIFYING THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE INCIDENT.

IN THE PROCESS, ARRANGEMENTS WERE MADE FOR AN AUTOPSY AND BURIAL OF THE DECEASED WHILE THE SUSPECT AN OSD OFFICER WAS ARRESTED AND SUBSEQUENTLY CHARGED TO COURT.

WHILE THIS WAS ONGOING, A GROUP OF PERSONS PURPORTING TO BE MEMBERS OF THE BIKE RIDERS UNION, WITHOUT ANY PROVOCATION WHATSOEVER FROM THE POLICE OR GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES, WENT ON THE RAMPAGE, ATTACKED THE POLICE STATION AT SHELL COMPANY KISSY, AND LATER INVADED THE CALABA TOWN POLICE STATION WOUNDING TWO FEMALE POLICE OFFICERS AND ONE MALE STATION SERGEANT THAT WERE ON DUTY.

THEY ALSO CARTED AWAY VALUABLE ITEMS INCLUDING COMPUTERS, MOBILE PHONES AND CASH THAT WERE IN THE POSSESSION OF POLICE PERSONNEL.

THE STATION OFFICER'S DAUGHTER WHO WAS VISITING WAS ALSO TERRORIZED IN THE FULL VIEW OF ONLOOKERS.

THE ATTACKERS LEFT THE STATION SERIOUSLY DAMAGED AND EVEN MADE ATTEMPTS TO BURN THE BUILDING DOWN USING MOLOTOV COCKTAILS. THIS WAS AVERTED BY THE SWIFT INTERVENTION OF A JUNIOR POLICE OFFICER. THIS CRIMINAL ACT OF VANDALISM WAS REPEATED AT THE POLICE STATION AT KABALA WHERE THE BODY OF THE DECEASED HAD BEEN CONVEYED FOR BURIAL.

INITIAL INVESTIGATIONS THAT ENJOY THE FULL COOPERATION OF THE SIERRA LEONE COMMERCIAL BIKE RIDERS UNION REVEAL THAT THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE AND THE GENERAL MEMBERSHIP OF THAT UNION DID NOT AT ANY TIME SANCTION OR SUPPORT THE ACTS OF VIOLENCE PERPETRATED BY THE SO-CALLED BIKE RIDERS. INDEED, THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE HAS ISSUED A PRESS RELEASE THAT COMPLETELY CONDEMNS SUCH LAWLESSNESS.

WHILE INVESTIGATIONS CONTINUE, GOVERNMENT REITERATES THAT THE POLICE MUST AT ALL TIMES ADHERE TO ITS STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES AND RULES OF ENGAGEMENT IN THE EXECUTION OF THEIR DUTIES.

AT THE SAME TIME, THE RULE OF LAW WILL PREVAIL AND ALL THOSE FOUND COMMITTING OFFENCES WILL FACE THE FULL FORCE OF THE LAW.

GOVERNMENT FURTHER NOTES THAT ON MONDAY 18TH JUNE 2012, REPORTS WERE RECEIVED OF THE MOUNTING OF ROAD BLOCKS AND DISRUPTION OF VEHICULAR MOVEMENTS BY A SECTION OF THE MOTOR DRIVERS AND GENERAL TRANSPORT WORKERS UNION WHICH CLAIMED TO HAVE CALLED A STRIKE OF ITS MEMBERSHIP. GOVERNMENT WISHES TO MAKE IT KNOWN THAT IT DID NOT RECEIVE ANY STRIKE NOTICE IN ACCORDANCE WITH EXISTING REGULATIONS.

CONSEQUENTLY, STEPS WERE IMMEDIATELY TAKEN TO RETURN THE SITUATION TO NORMALCY THROUGH CONTACT WITH ALL FACTIONS OF THAT UNION. GOVERNMENT HAS NOW RECEIVED ASSURANCES THAT THE SAID ACTION WAS NOT OFFICIAL UNION POLICY AND TWO PRESS RELEASES TO THE EFFECT HAVE BEEN ISSUED BY THE UNION.

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS ASSURED THAT GOVERNMENT WILL NOT CONDONE ANY ACT OF CRIMINALITY OR LAWLESSNESS THAT WILL DISRUPT THE PEACE AND TRANQUILITY OF THE STATE. TO THAT END, ALL CITIZENS ARE ADVISED TO BE LAW-ABIDING AND GO ABOUT THEIR NORMAL BUSINESS IN A PEACEFUL AND ORDERLY MANNER.

E N D

STATE HOUSE 19TH JUNE, 2012

FREETOWN