The Sierra Leone Police (SLP) have provided an update on the ongoing investigation into the tragic killing of journalist Samuel Brima Mattia, following a visit by a delegation from the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) and the Sports Writers Association of Sierra Leone (SWASAL).
The delegation, led by SLAJ President Ahmed Sahid Nasarall, visited the Waterloo Police Division and the crime scene to follow up on the case.
Superintendent Thomas Robyn Mansaray, the Support Officer at the Waterloo Police Division, informed the delegation that the investigation is progressing, with four individuals currently in custody assisting with inquiries.
He assured the delegation of the SLP’s commitment to treating the investigation with the utmost seriousness to ensure that justice is served.
The investigation began after the police received a missing person report in the early hours of 16 January 2025. The following day, an abandoned corpse was discovered near the perimeter fence of the Waterloo Correctional Centre, which was later identified as that of journalist Samuel Brima Mattia by his family and community members.
Based on initial intelligence, the police invited Joseph Lamin, the Station Manager of VOPAD Radio, and another individual for questioning. Subsequently, two additional staff members from the radio station were also brought in for further inquiry. All four individuals are currently assisting the police with the investigation.
SLAJ President Ahmed Sahid Nasarall stressed the importance of a thorough investigation, urging the police to take the necessary time to ensure justice is served. He highlighted that while the media community seeks justice for their late colleague, the journalists in custody remain of significant interest to SLAJ, and he called on the police to conduct the investigation professionally.
Nasarall also urged the detained journalists to fully cooperate with the police, providing any relevant information that could aid the investigation. SLAJ has pledged to closely monitor the progress of the case.
In addition to visiting the police division, the SLAJ and SWASAL delegation, along with police personnel, visited VOPAD Radio to extend their condolences to the bereaved family of Samuel Brima Mattia.
Let the police do their best to provide each and every one that are involved to suffer the partiality of killing an innocent man loved by the people of Kissi town community from MR P at Waterloo
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