By Joseph S. Conteh
The Sierra Leone Police are reported to have declared Isatu Sesay, who is the All People’s Congress (APC) chairlady of Constituency 123, wanted for her alleged involvement in the 10th August 2022 nationwide protest which claimed the lives of six police personnel and twenty-one civilians.
Madam Sesay and others are reportedly wanted in connection with the protest and the attacking and vandalizing of the Wellington Police Post by youths who are said to have been instigated by the APC to highlight the widespread hardship and suffering which citizens are experiencing under the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) government of President Julius Maada Bio.
Investigations carried out by The Nationalist indicate that Isatu Sesay, who has serious eyesight problems with one of her eyes damaged, was accused by the Local Unit Commander of the Wellington Police Post of allegedly inciting youths to attack and vandalize the police post. The police are said to have even issued a “Warrant of Arrest” for her.
One source told this press that Isatu Sesay, who feared for her safety and that of her children, fled her home and reportedly took refuge with her adopted daughter, Ramatu Sesay, who later helped her to flee the country.
After the bloody protest President Julius Maada Bio, in a nationwide broadcast, referred to the protesters as “terrorists” and appointed a Special Investigation Committee to investigate the incidents.
In Sierra Leone, the right to peaceful protest by members of the public is tightly controlled, as citizens are required to get permission from the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) stating their reason or reasons for protesting. But it is common practice for the SLP to refuse such requests.
It could be recalled that since the Bio-led government came to power in 2018, scores of citizens have been allegedly murdered by state security personnel. In places such as Mile 91, Tonko Limba, Lunsar, and Makeni citizens were killed by security forces when they staged protests and up to date no security personnel has been tried for those killings.