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A viral video showing uniformed Sierra Leonean police officers and a civilian allegedly collecting money from commercial drivers has triggered widespread public anger.
The footage, circulating on social media, captures several officers on duty in the rain alongside a man in civilian clothing, who appears to solicit and receive cash from drivers on a busy Freetown street.
The incident has reignited long-standing complaints about police officers routinely demanding payments from commercial drivers—a practice locally referred to as “booking.” Many citizens claim this has severely damaged trust in law enforcement, alleging that collected money is often shared with superiors.
This controversy emerges amid persistent corruption allegations within the Sierra Leone Police (SLP). Reports from international and local watchdogs, including Afrobarometer, have repeatedly cited bribery, extortion, and abuse of power, particularly during traffic stops.
According to Afrobarometer’s 2021-2023 survey, “Law Enforcers or Law Breakers?”, Sierra Leone ranked among the highest in police bribery rates, with 72% of respondents reporting demands for bribes when seeking police assistance—far above the continental average of 36%.
In response, the Director of Traffic Management and Road Safety, Commissioner Abdul Moijue, issued a strong warning during a police press briefing in January 2025.
“We do not send officers into the streets to collect money. Their duty is traffic control and law enforcement,” Moijue stated. He urged the public to report misconduct with evidence, such as videos or photos, to the Complaints, Discipline, and Internal Investigations Department (CDIID).
Moijue emphasized that offenders would face strict disciplinary action under the 2001 Police Disciplinary Regulations. His statement follows mounting complaints from motorists about alleged extortion by traffic officers.
The man in this video shaking hands with apprentice is not an police officer 😳 😤 😐.
Exactly, so this is not proper evidence, but the fact that the police are on the scene means they are connected with the bribery that’s going on. Maybe it wasn’t even money that the man was collecting, this is not clear evidence. It can be handshaking.
Smh….
U are not even ashamed to say its handshaking
We sirraleoneans always look for trouble who are you reporting this Police officers to when it is the government that sent them there to collect money for them
If you are asked to deliver will you not
It’s the drivers you are giving more trouble in the name of you are talking for them
There is no clear evidence against the police officer in this video of collecting money from the drive or neither the apprentice.
U dae explain without evidence abi?
Na teday u no sae dis kind tin dae hapin na Salone? Lef idleness en fen tin du. U na worry man.
How’s this news? We all know say na so e d be
We the citizens of this country want to see the action that will be taken by the ACC for such act because we had seen where teachers are disgraced publicly by the commissioner for corrupt practices
Who sent the man to shake hands with apprentice.
If it’s not arrange with the police officers.
That’s the main reason why transportation is very difficult in freetown.
The drivers are not running directly to Waterloo.
They decided to drive halfway and increase the transport.