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The Inspector General of Sierra Leone Police (SLP), William Fayia Sellu has intimated the Head of the European Union (EU) in Sierra Leone, Manuel A. Muller and the European Union Regional Security Officer, Mario T. Alvarez on the their preparedness to police the forthcoming June 24th, general elections.
He made this disclosure in his office on Gloucester Street, Freetown on Wednesday, 23rd January 2023.
Speaking regarding the SLP’s preparedness to provide security for the country’s coming elections, IGP Sellu noted that he had ensured that his boys received robust training and education on how they should adequately manage and provide security for the public in general, and political parties and their leaders in particular.
He added that the SLP has equally provided robust security for the different parties which had conducted their lower-level elections weeks ago, noting that, the elections’ outcomes were peaceful as a result of the police’s security.
IGP Sellu informed the team that, the SLP is not aversed to protests and demonstrations from the citizens. He however, said that that the public or citizens who want to be protected is to solicit the police’s consent and attention so that they will provide security for them.
In his disclosure to the EU’s Team, IGP Sellu referenced the August 10th protest, stating the police did learn a lot from the riots in the different places in the country.
He stated that owing to the experience the SLP got from the said protest, they have tried to make sure that every police officer receives training, particularly, on how to resolve or handle rioters.
He added that the SLP has ensured that, it puts stringent security measures in place to forestall the ungodly incident which left some parts of the country unstable.
The Police boss reliably informed the EU Team that, his team has put strategic mechanisms in place to provide adequate security for the elections, noting that, he and his team would ensure that proper security is provided all over the country for a peaceful outcome of the June 24th, presidential and parliamentary elections.
The EU Team expressed their utmost satisfaction with the IGP’s explanation of how the police had prepared to provide astute security for the forthcoming elections.
They admonished that, if anyone wishes to stage a protest or demonstration, the persons or the person must inform the police for the provision of security personnel to control the protest, adding that if the police are unaware of the protest, they won’t be able to provide the required security they should get for them to stage or hold a peaceful protest or demonstration.
The EU Team, pledged their continued support to the SLP as the elections gradually draw near, adding that, the EU is poised to make sure that it helps the SLP and all Security Forces to make sure that the coming general elections, are peaceful and the country is safe for everyone.
