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A female police officer in Freetown has allegedly been caught on camera collecting Le10 from a commercial tricycle, commonly known as a keke, in an incident that has renewed concerns over alleged roadside extortion by law enforcement personnel.
The footage, reportedly recorded secretly, shows the female officer standing alongside a fellow police officer, both dressed in police uniforms, while appearing to receive money from a keke rider.
The video was shared on the Inside Salone Facebook platform on Friday, August 14, 2026, and has since attracted public attention, particularly amid longstanding complaints from commercial drivers and riders about alleged demands for money by some police officers operating along Freetown’s roads.
Some members of the public have attributed the situation to the high level of poverty in the country, arguing that economic hardship has contributed to corruption increasingly difficult to control.
According to allegations frequently raised by road users, some drivers and riders are required to make payments, commonly referred to as “booking,” before they are allowed to carry out their daily operations. They claim such payments are sometimes demanded even when no traffic or other offence has been committed.
The alleged “book” system has been described by some commercial drivers and riders as a form of unofficial roadside collection, with complaints that it contributes to harassment and financial pressure on people operating public transport services in the capital.
However, the incident has also raised a broader question: Is this the Sierra Leone we want our children to grow up in?
Police officers are trained and expected to uphold the law, fight corruption, and maintain public order. Allegations of officers taking money from motorists and riders therefore continue to raise concerns about public trust and the integrity of law enforcement.
Members of the public are now calling on the Inspector General of Police to look into the matter, investigate the circumstances surrounding the video, and take appropriate action if wrongdoing is established.
The viral footage has once again placed the issue of alleged roadside corruption involving traffic officers in the spotlight, with calls for stronger measures to address the practice.
