Opposition Members of Parliament have today staged a “no sitting protest” over what they referred to as continuous police brutality.

The opposition MPs walked out of the Well of Parliament today during the 2022 budget debate, leaving behind empty seats.

According to one of the opposition MPs, (preferred to be anonymous), the Sierra Leone Police have been constantly embarrassing them.

He explained that, “First it was Hon. Lahai Marah remanded for two nights at the CID for a social media post. Hon. Abdul Kargbo went through the same for a crime committed by the Minister of Transport during a bye Election in constituency 110.”

He added that, “Hon. Mohamed Bangura was arrested in the court Building for simply involving in the Sambaya Bendugu Bye Election. Hon. Abu Backarr was again arrested on allegations of August 10 protest and recently Hon. Oyie from the Koya Constituency was arrested within the precinct of Parliament.”

The Opposition MP further noted that, “In the recent stand off in Parliament, the police again wrote a letter to the Speaker to investigate the conduct of certain Opposition Members of Parliament for an alleged happening in the Chambers.”

He therefore stated that the continuous violent action on Opposition Members of Parliament by the police should be checked.

Last week, armed police officers entered the well of Parliament following a fracas as MPs discussed regulations to change the electoral system to proportional representation. The MPs were said to be exchanging blows in the well after disagreeing with each other. The Clerk of Parliament, Paran Umar Tarawallie has instituted a warrant of arrest for three opposition MPs following the incident.