On Wednesday, April 19th, 2023, Sierra Leone’s Security Sector held a press conference to address the numerous anti-state activities incited by individuals on social media and the fear and panic those messages are creating in the country.

In his statement, the National Security Coordinator, Abdulai Caulker expressed concern about the recent brutal killing of the OSD Coordinator in Makeni, Mathew Banya (alias Boyka), and the accompanying social media utterances and provocations fashioned against the stability of the state and the security sector.

“Since 2018 when this present government assumed office, the security sector has noted with dismay that there have been countless numbers of anti-state activities tantamount to undermining the peace and security of Sierra Leone and unnecessarily provoking security sector reactions,” he stated, adding that, “Whilst the security sector had wished such baits had not been thrown, it would not shy away from its constitutional responsibility of ensuring that citizens’ lives and properties are secure and the country remains stable.”

Caulker emphasized that violent incidents such as the ones in Tombo, Lunsar, Makeni, Mile 91, the Pademba Road Prison break, and the August 10th violent protest, had all been incited by social media trolls like Adebayor and their clandestine political godfathers.

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He stated that the security sector had noted with dismay the incitement of these acts and that the security sector’s constitutional responsibility is to ensure that citizens’ lives and properties are secure and the country remains stable.

The National Security Coordinator made it clear that the security sector is not jittery and cannot be intimidated. It alone has the constitutional right to exercise the monopoly of violence on behalf of the state, and no one else.

He noted the security sector will use all in its power to strongly resist and impel any person or group of persons who believe that, for their greed and selfishness, they can make Sierra Leone unstable and ungovernable.

“Therefore, we have thought it necessary to call this press conference to give out a clear message, which is: Sierra Leoneans, stay away from violence; don’t take the law into your own hands, follow due process. Don’t allow another man to use your hand to remove palm kernels from a burning furnace,” Caulker stated.

As the general elections approach in less than two and a half months, Mr. Caulker reiterated the importance of ensuring that Sierra Leone remains stable and peaceful and that the enabling environment is created for peaceful and democratic elections. He called for an inclusive approach to ensure nonviolence during the elections and asked all political party leaders, moral guarantors, traditional and religious leaders, press and media houses, women’s forums, peace networks, teachers, parents, guardians, youth groups, civil society organizations, and members of the international community to support efforts geared towards making Sierra Leone stable and peaceful.

The National Security Coordinator concluded the conference by saying that the security sector is ready and will ensure that forthcoming general elections are conducted devoid of violence and intimidation.

“The MACP will be robustly enforced during and after those elections,” he concluded.