Described as a novelty in the history of policing in the Western Rural District, the Local Unit Commander of Waterloo Division, CSP Ibrahim M. Sama, on Wednesday the 1st March 2023, summoned principals and school administrators in and around Waterloo to a meeting held in the conference hall of Waterloo Divisional Headquarters.

In his opening remarks after standing on established protocols, LUC Ibrahim M. Sama commended the principals and school administrators for their invaluable contributions in supporting the Free Quality Education rolled out by His Excellency President (Rtd) Brigadier Julius Maada Bio. LUC Sama furthered that “lawlessness in schools by pupils is becoming worrisome. We decided to engage school authorities because they are in charge of a large group of youth who must be handled with care because they are the future leaders,” he opined.

In his concluding remarks, LUC Sama pleaded with the principals and school authorities to “preach peace and non-violence messages to school pupils” and to “put effective measures in place to fight lawlessness in their schools”.

Responding on behalf of principals and school administrators, Mr. Alfred Turay, principal of Peninsula Senior Secondary School, Waterloo, hailed LUC Sama and his police officers for their exemplary and professional policing styles in addressing contemporary issues of lawlessness amongst school pupils. Principal Turay stated that “addressing lawlessness among school pupils does not start or end with school authorities alone. It has to be extended to the homes and communities, as well”.

Madam Isatu C. Kabia from Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) Secondary School, Waterloo, impressed on her colleagues the importance of “maintaining highest levels of integrity among school authorities to earn respect from the pupils”. Hence, she concluded that “teachers must be good role models”.

Several other speakers pledged to work with the Police to reduce, if not eradicate, lawlessness in their schools.