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Journalist Thomas Dixon has broken his silence, revealing that he is currently in hiding due to what he describes as a “serious threat” from Inspector General of Police, William Fayia Sellu. In a statement, Dixon claimed the IG accused him of “crossing the redline” after he criticized the use of “orders from above” to detain individuals.
Dixon further alleged that the President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), Ahmed Sahid Nasrala, advised him to leave his home, warning that the IG intended to have him arrested. The journalist also reported seeing an unidentified black vehicle in his community shortly after the alleged threats were made
His full Statement reads;
I want to use this opportunity to inform everyone that I am safe where I am staying at the moment
I thank all those who tried to reach out to me and for your prayers and words of consolation and solidarity.
I am still in hiding for the serious threat of the Inspector General of Police William Faya Sellu in a text message: “Thomas,you have crossed the redline.”
His threat came after I critiqued what I believed as the unnecessary use of “orders from above” to keep people in detention.
His threat was further compounded by a call from the President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), Ahmed Sahid Nasrala advising that I should leave my home because the IG told him that he would get me arrested.
Prior to this information, I had not been informed of any report or investigation against me by the IGP
However, people in my community confirmed that they saw an unidentified black vehicle with some men in the vehicle around the community but could not tell their purpose this past Saturday when the IGP made the threat that I have crossed the redline.
This is the way people in positions of trust have been abusing power in our country for years which have most time cost the lives and destinies of powerless citizens all in the name of “orders from above.”
The threat of the IG that I have crossed the redline which figuratively can be interpreted as the point of no return is still having a psychological effect on me and my family.
Whereas I am safe where I am, I want to state that I still feel unsecured to practice my craft as a journalist in an environment full of threats against media practitioners to the point that the IG could text, “Thomas, you have crossed the redline.”
Few months back, after I got harassed and threatened by boys close to the First Lady of the country because I gave my view on statement she made, my bag containing my computer, passport and money got missing. I reported the matter to the police but uptill now there has been no head way.
Since then, I have been very careful about moving around because I noticed that I have been frequently monitored by some people in authority.
It is the responsibility of Inspector General of Police to ensure that every citizen is safe but if he turns out to be making existential threats against those he should protect then it appears we are not safe and secured.
Thank You All !!!
Thomas Dixon
You did the right thing because thaf country is not safe fof any serious professional level haedsd person, who wants to take any practice further to an apex,but not under the incumbent pressurised regime taken all “orders from.above”.
So true
No matter how long the river is ,there must be an ending. Power is not forever and whosoever that is the hem of affairs of this country must be brought to justice one day. This current regime is misusing power with
hope that they will remain with their drunkeness forever.
May God guide and protect you, were so ever you are.
Why always you ? Are you the only practicing journalist in sierra Leone ? Pls stop the baseless propaganda….Some of you so called journalist are full in politics , siding the oppositions ….so your conseince is flagging you ! Stop dar bullshits !
The way you are sounding shows where you belong, and that is why you will never see headway simply because you can’t be trusted. What is it that he has done wrong? He is not the only journalist, and he is not the first to experience such; from the time of Sofula to this time, it’s just getting worse. Do you know the meaning of the word used by the IG? He should be called to book for such a word and to tell us, the citizens, the meaning of his word. The the while black jeep were not going around the said man residence why sorrdenly after the treats of the IG? My brother you have to be careful of your words and watch your back, nothing last forever, but history always remain. In the Europ which they used to compare is to, such cannot be seeing there.