Citizens Condemn Police Arrest of Fullahs in Freetown
Aaron Parker Widespread condemnation has erupted following reports that the Sierra Leone Police targeted members of the Fullah community during a search operation at Lumley Beach in Freetown on Sunday, December 15th.
The operation, aimed at identifying undocumented foreign nationals, primarily Guineans, has sparked outrage and accusations of ethnic profiling.
The situation reportedly unfolded after the police began conducting searches for undocumented individuals. However, Fullahs, a prominent tribe in Sierra Leone with ancestral ties to Guinea, were allegedly singled out during the operation.
This incident follows reports of over 1,000 Sierra Leoneans living in makeshift camps along beaches and in slums in Guinea being forcibly deported to the Sierra Leone-Guinea border after accusations of loitering, theft, and other criminal activities.
Citizens have taken to social media to voice their anger and frustration over what they perceive as discriminatory practices by the police.
Mamadu Karna Barrie, a prominent Fullah community member, wrote:
“Since I was born, I have never felt insulted or insecure in my entire life like today. My identity as a Fullah was dragged to the ground as if I don’t matter in my own beloved country, Sierra Leone. How can a police officer, whose salary is paid from my taxes, arrest my family member for a National Identity Card? Are we the only people that have origins from Guinea? Don’t we have other tribes with Guinean roots? This is a personal attack on all Fullahs in Sierra Leone.”
Another citizen, Clement Jesus Massaquoi, added:
“This procedure is totally wrong. The government should act with maturity. How can you identify someone’s nationality by their tribe? It’s completely unacceptable and shows a lack of professionalism. The Fullah people deserve an apology. Nationality is determined by place of birth or legal identification, not by ethnicity.”
Following the backlash, it has been reported that those arrested during the operation have since been released. However, the incident has left a bitter taste, with many questioning the actions and accountability of the Sierra Leone Police.
Citizens are urging the government to ensure fair and transparent policing practices that do not discriminate against any tribe or community.
As the dust settles, the incident serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between national security and respect for human rights, with many calling for greater oversight of police operations to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
These two neighbouring countries should stop this act, though Guinea has started. I encourage that Sierra Leone should not follow a bad and discriminatory practice.
You have to ask your president in Guinea, who’s treating sierra Leonean badly in Guinea.Is like he doesn’t know if a lot of Guineans are in sierra Leone
@jusus manssaquoi, did you condemned the guinean Government after they humiliated our fellow sierra Leonean
Awa let see we will close all borders soon
Stupid fool, are fula’s the one’s that deported them?
True talk,why the Fullah don’t condem what happened in Guinea?
The president of guinea is not a fullah and the fullah and the rest of the world are not in favor of what has happened,my brother is in guinea right now and the only document he has right now is sierra leone national ID card because he is a sierra leonian his tribe as a fullah does not makes him a guineian,your tribe can not make you a citizen, nationally is based on your birth rights eg I am a fullah and I was born in sierra leone and that what makes me a sierra leonian not my tribe.
Please give peace a chance so that we can enjoy our beloved sierra leone 🇸🇱 together as one people. ❤
Stupid fools how many Fullah’s are supporting the issues that is going on in Guinea.
Next time a go cross you line hat hat one
What the fullah has to do about the decision made by the government of guinea 🇬🇳 even the fullah people who where sierra leonian in guinea are in the same problem right now, because there tribe as fullah does not makes them guineanian they foreigners in because they were born in sierra leone,there were many tribe in guinea so why aiming at the fullah people alone?even the president of guinea is not a fullah.
In Europe America Asia when they want to dopote foreigners they don’t look for tribes they look in to your document and if you are not a citizen they will dopote you if have committed a crime or if your resident permit or your visa has expired,but why Africa is always like this?
The policemen are right. The same way the fullah’s are feeling a pain in here that is the say to our brothers and sister in guinea. The Guinea Government doesn’t want to know If you are a citizen in the country, hence you are having a trace from Sierra Leone, they will match you out. So let them feel the same pain, nothing is special about them. Let them go I’m in support with the police officer in Sierra Leone .
You’re a real educated fool
The deportation that happened was done by the Guinean government not by the Fullah Tribe and besides it was done on every sierra leonean who is embarking on illegal activities and it’s not subjected to Temne, mende ,limba etc
But here they saying its a check on documentation but its been subjected on the Fullah people only . The Fullah’s are not the only tribe that has an origin from Guinea..this actions shows the unprofessionalism of Police force
My assignment for you is to kindly go back and ready the constitution and the history of Sierra Leone thoroughly
You are right my brother the fullah,s are so discriminative some times.
You are one of the most stupid person I have seen in my life common sense you dont have
Your tribe can not make you a citizen but your birth rights, all the tribe in sierra leone migra from another places except for the shabro, I think you need to read more about your national history and the constitution as well.
I am a fullah and I was in sierra leone 🇸🇱 💕 and that what made me a sierra leonian not my tribe.
Is a pity for our nation
Nice
Why didn’t you condemn the action of the Guinea government against sierra Leonean brothers in the recent happenings in Guinea.
We should never result to a Tit-for-Tat about nationality. We’re better than this
Yes indeed, this act if foolishness needs to stopped forthwith…
Never
Did the Guinean government follow due process according to international law no so we will respond in kind you didn’t condemn your government I don’t condemn mine
They condemn the arrest of Fullahs who are foreigner and happy about the way Sierra Leonean are killed and deported?
Who the hell told you that every fullah in Sierra leone are foreigners
Nr dea blame u o, wit u wassce English dm
But Fullah’s are not the only people who are connected to Guinea. The soso, Mandingo are all connected to Guinea but most of them were born here in S\L. SLP, please stop this nonsense and find another to get at Mamadou Dumbuya.
L’humanité mérite le respect et la considération, ces Fullah qui sont traîter ainsi faisait la même action que ces Sierra Léonais qu’ils sont rapatrier?
Alors faisons attention, il y a bien-sure la différence entre foullah et Guinéen !
Everybody should have something that should identify them, Sierra Leone is the only country that people leave reckless without having nothing to identify them.
Please you people have to look into the situation carefully, the Guineans humiliated our people in Guinea by nationality not by tribe. So you people have to do it in the same way please.
Please you people have to look into the situation carefully, the Guineans humiliated our people in Guinea by nationality not by tribe. So you people have to do it in the same way please.