Selective Security Checks: A Security Threat in Sierra Leone?

I have transversed or crisscrossed Sierra Leone extensively. Among the 16 districts in the country, it’s only Kailahun in the East that I haven’t visited.

In all the entry points of these districts I have been, there are checkpoints controlled by both Police and the military personnel.

Their role might be seen as one intending to guarantee utmost security on the land. However, this is not the case as far as I’m concerned.

Premise…

Security checks should have been generally done rather than being executed selectively.

In all cases, commercial vehicles are put on checks. Though there are certain commercial vehicles that don’t go through this rigor.

Where’s the security lapse?

Private vehicles don’t go through routine security checks in almost all of these checkpoints – which according to my view, it’s not only a security blunder but an intentional omission tended to undermine security scrutiny in these entry or exit ponts.

I keep saying this to security experts and let me reiterate this to the public that: top Cr!m!nals dealing in drugs smuggling and others involving in heinous acts almost always use private vehicles to transport harmful substances etc.

They succeed in doing this because of the naiveness of our security forces manning our entry points on seeing vehicles painted in black descriptions.

What could be the way out?

Proper scrutiny of every vehicle plying the highways of this country through the use of access control systems, alarm systems, intrusion detection systems etc.
AI security cameras are sophisticated and expensive. So I can’t recommend it to be used.

If these security devices are used they can’t only boost our security outfit, but also limit too much interaction between security forces and drivers – which many are seeing as an act of palm greasing.