More Former Soldiers Arrested by Bio Police as Danger Looms in Sierra Leone on Eve of the Polls
By Abu Shaw
On the eve of elections in Sierra Leone, the jittery President Bio is ordering the rampant arrest of former soldiers, all geared towards scaring the voters.
More former military officers are being rounded up unjustly by the panic-stricken Bio police, a situation that has triggered tension in Sierra Leone. Consequently, another bloody civil war is looming in the country as the panic-stricken incumbent President Julius Maada Bio continues to order SLPP police to arrest retired soldiers. Many ex-soldiers have been nabbed in the last few days by the Bio brutal police who are taking instructions from the State House. The reasons for the arrests of the retired soldiers are not made public but hostility against the former military officers has sent dangerous signals nationwide threatening the peace and security of the state. The SLPP police, most of whom are Kamajor militias, are coming under criticism for arresting military officers. (Photo: Former US Army Officer Alpha Sheriff under arrest in Sierra Leone).
Arresting innocent former soldiers, and ex-combatants is not good for the peace and security of the nation. Reports say the Bio police are even planting guns and weapons on the ex-soldiers during the arrest. Some of those arrested are taken to the notorious Benghazi Detention Centre in Freetown and later to the Criminal Investigations Department CID. Commander Sammy and Major Oya Kamanda were reportedly arrested on Thursday. Social media activist Giant Kuyembeh noted that Maada Bio does not have the right to use civilian police to arrest soldiers. “It’s wrong. It will bring a grudge between the two forces police and the military. When soldiers commit any crime or have problems, it is the Military Police MPs who have the right to arrest soldiers and not ordinary police.
“Bio is fortifying the police to harass the people, and to kill people without any consequences. Some time ago, President Bio used police to kill an ex-combatant called Alpha in Hastings and nothing came out of it. The Bio police are policemen and women who never underwent real police training. Recruiting core SLPP people from the streets and giving them weapons, and uniforms, are the ones killing innocent citizens. These fake police believed to be Kamajors are the ones who have arrested the following soldiers in recent times. Captain Milton was arrested recently and needs to be released. Captain Milton is a very eloquent man to the APC party and to Sierra Leoneans. He has fought for this country and protected life and property. (Photo: President Bio is causing war in Sierra Leone).
“Right now, President Bio has arrested Captain Milton and detained him somewhere unknown until after the elections. The second person Bio’s police have arrested is Major AO Kamara and detained in an unknown place for no good reason. The third person Bio police arrested is Staff Sergeant Sammy, a very good citizen, and good military man. Right now, he is in a tight place. The fourth person arrested is WO One Bell. He was among others who were with the former Freetown Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, the awaiting Mayor.
“Bio has arrested all these people without any good reason. Captain Milton was arrested at Lungi. Others were nabbed in the Ferry. Please release these people. If fights broke out in the country, the police would suffer heavy casualties,” Giant Kuyembeh warned. Also, violent SLPP government police have earlier arrested an ex-United States Army Official called Alpha Sheriff. Popularly known as APC Sheriff, this former soldier was arrested in Bo for no apparent reason but to put fear in the electorates. “Police need to be careful of what they are doing against the soldiers,” citizens warned the Bio presidency. More details on the arrest of Alpha Sheriff – (Photo: APC leader Dr Samura Kamara and Chericoco on peaceful campaigns).
Police Arrest Former US Army Official in Bo
By Matthew Frizter
Police in Sierra Leone have arrested and detained a former member of the United States Army, Alpha Sheriff popularly called APC Sheriff around Bo in the Southern Region of Sierra Leone. Details of his arrest are sketchy but many believe, Sheriff who holds both Sierra Leonean and US Citizenship has been the subject of police intimidation over his affiliation with the main opposition party in Sierra Leone. The sheriff was said to have been arrested alongside members of a private security group protecting the APC Vice Presidential Candidate, Chernor Ramadan Maju aka Chericoco who was in the City of Kenema on a campaign trail. In Kenema, APC supporters were earlier said to have come under attack by ruling party supporters, and the township was said to be in a state of unease for several hours.
Sierra Leone is two weeks to general elections with incumbent President Julius Maada Bio facing a formidable opponent, former Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr Samura Kamara. Tensions have been on the rise with supporters of the main opposition on the receiving end of state-sponsored thuggery and police intimidation. It has also been confirmed that ruling party supporters in Kenema had obstructed the APC party rally in the township by mounting roadblocks and physically assaulting anyone in APC campaign colours. This is not the first time Sheriff has been targeted by state security forces simply because of his affiliation with the All People’s Congress party. He was also part of those arrested and detained by the police during an attack at the APC headquarters in 2020.
