Sierra Leone Police to Embark on Nationwide Pistol Verification
During the regular police press briefing at the Sierra Leone Headquarters on George Street in Freetown, ACP John Martin Senessie, the Regional Commander for Freetown East, announced on April 18, 2023, that the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) will conduct a nationwide verification of pistols.
ACP Senessie did not provide any details on how the verification process would be conducted but assured the public that it will take place.
ACP Senessie made this statement while providing an update on the murder of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Mathew Banya alias ‘Boika’ at Station Road in Makeni, along with Detective Moosa, the Deputy Operations Officer at CID.
According to Detective Moosa, 31 individuals who were arrested on the day of the incident have since been released.
The Head of Media and Public Relations, ACP Brima Kamara, revealed that the SLP released the suspects using the Judges Rule.
Detective Moosa stated that five empty bullet shells of 9×9 mm caliber were discovered in Banya’s vehicle, suggesting that the perpetrator shot him from close range.
Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Patrick Johnson, promised that the SLP would not stop until the culprit behind Banya’s murder is brought to justice.
Meanwhile, Banya was buried today at the Sierra Leone Police Training School Grounds in Hastings.