The Sierra Leone Police (SLP) have responded sharply to accusations made by the Secretary General of the All People’s Congress (APC), refuting claims of government interference in the detention of APC supporters following an incident outside the party’s headquarters on October 15, 2024.

The allegations, contained in a letter addressed to the Inspector General of Police and later published on social media, suggested that the government had pressured the police to prolong the detention of APC members and to lay charges against them.

In a detailed statement released by the SLP, the police force outlined the sequence of events leading to the arrest and detention of individuals involved in a disturbance at the APC headquarters.

According to the SLP, their presence at the party office was prompted by a request from the APC Secretary General himself, who had raised concerns about a potential disruption by supporters of Dr. Samura Kamara, a key figure within the APC, during a scheduled meeting with international delegations from ECOWAS, the African Union, UNOWAS, and the Commonwealth.

“Police deployment on October 15 was initiated based on a formal request from the APC Secretary General,” the SLP’s statement read. “He expressed concerns that supporters of Dr. Samura Kamara intended to disrupt a crucial meeting with international guarantors.”

However, during the police presence, some individuals reportedly engaged in disorderly conduct with “clear riotous intent,” violating the Public Order (Amendment) Act of 2020. This led to their arrest and subsequent investigation at the Criminal Investigations Department.

The SLP highlighted an important contradiction within the APC’s narrative, noting that on the following day, October 16, the APC’s National Publicity Secretary appeared on Radio Democracy 98.1, publicly distancing the party from those arrested. The Publicity Secretary reportedly stated on air that the detained individuals were not members of the APC.

This conflicting stance has raised questions about the APC’s internal communication, with the SLP expressing surprise at the Secretary General’s complaint regarding the detention of individuals that the party had already disowned.

“The leadership of the SLP is perplexed by the Secretary General’s letter, given that the APC’s own National Publicity Secretary denied on public radio that those arrested were party supporters,” the police statement continued.

Furthermore, the police categorically denied any external influence over their operations, asserting that their actions were driven solely by law enforcement obligations. “The arrests, detentions, and investigations were carried out by the SLP in the lawful execution of our duties, with no interference from the Government of Sierra Leone,” the statement clarified.

The SLP also emphasized their operational independence as enshrined in law, reassuring the public that law and order were being upheld without political bias. The police reiterated that their responsibility lies in maintaining public order and preventing and detecting crime.

The ongoing detention and investigation of the arrested individuals have sparked further debate, with the APC accusing the police of overreach and political bias. However, the SLP’s firm stance and the conflicting statements from within the APC have left the situation murky, as both parties seek to control the narrative.