Unity Party Chair Femi Claudius-Cole Condemns Widespread Extortion at Security Checkpoints

Unity Party Chair Femi Claudius-Cole Condemns Widespread Extortion at Security Checkpoints

Femi Claudius-Cole, Chairperson of the Unity Party and a respected civil society advocate, has issued a forceful appeal to the Inspector General of Police and other security agencies over what she describes as pervasive extortion and harassment at checkpoints nationwide.

In a letter dated June 12, 2025, Claudius-Cole voiced serious concern about the conduct of security personnel stationed particularly along district highways and near border crossings.

While affirming the need for checkpoints to protect national security, she cautioned that many have deteriorated into hubs of “organized racketeering,” where drivers and passengers are routinely intimidated and compelled to pay bribes.

“These checkpoints, which should exist to safeguard public safety, have instead become places of harassment, intimidation, and extortion,” she wrote. “Drivers are stopped repeatedly, subjected to aggressive questioning, and forced to pay money at nearly every point, regardless of whether any offense has been committed.”

She further noted that checkpoints are often positioned just a few yards apart, with each demanding payment. This, she argued, imposes additional financial burdens on transport operators, who already face costs related to vehicle maintenance, payments to owners, and supporting their families. Ultimately, she warned, these unofficial tolls drive up fares for passengers who are already struggling economically.

Claudius-Cole also decried the disrespectful treatment of travelers and raised questions about the legality of internal ID checks. “Are ID cards required by law for domestic travel within Sierra Leone? If not, why are citizens being punished for failing to produce one?” she asked, urging authorities to clarify regulations and end intimidation.

In her letter, Claudius-Cole called on the Inspector General to act decisively and offered several recommendations, including:

Reviewing and streamlining checkpoint protocols to ensure they are strictly limited to legitimate security functions.