Sierra Leone’s main opposition party, the All Peoples Congress (APC) has condemned the killing of OSD Regional Coordinator, ASP Mathew Moiwah Gbanya alias “Boyka’ in Makeni on Saturday evening, and called for an urgent, thorough, speedy and conclusive investigation into the matter.

The party made this stance in a press release dated 10 April 2023, and signed by their National Secretary General, Lansana Dumbuya Esq.

The APC believed that the killing of the police officer is a threat to the country’s peace and security, particularly in the run-up to the critical June 24 presidential and general elections.

The party then urged Sierra Leoneans, state and non-state actors to maintain the peace and tranquillity the country is enjoying at all times.

Makeni is a known strong hold of the APC and has been the battleground for recent political unrest.

The Press Release reads as follows:

‘‘The All Peoples Congress (APC) has received the sad news of the killing on Saturday night of a senior police officer in the northern city of Makeni.

A police notice dated the 9th April 2023, intimates that Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mathew Moiwah Gbanya was shot and killed by an unknown assailant on the night of Saturday 8th April 2023. ASP Gbanya was the Operational Support Division Regional Coordinator in the North-East of Sierra Leone.

The APC condemns this killing in the strongest terms and AGREES with the Sierra Leone Police on the urgent need for a thorough, speedy, and conclusive investigation.

While the APC believes that such development constitutes a considerable threat to the peace and security of our nation, particularly in the run-up to the critical June 24th multitier elections, we urge all Sierra Leoneans, state and non-state actors to always exercise restraint and to maintain the peace and tranquillity.

The APC extends its profound sympathy to the family of the deceased and the entire Sierra Leone Police”.