Inspector General of Police, Mr. William Fayia Sellu,
By Emma Black
The Central Based Journalists of Sierra Leone (CBJ-SL) strongly condemns the recent assault on a journalist from Africa Young Voices (AYV) by personnel of the Sierra Leone Police (SLP). A disturbing video, now widely circulated on social media, clearly shows SLP officers using excessive force including the use of pepper spray against the journalist while he was performing his lawful duties.
This blatant attack occurred in broad daylight and is a direct violation of Section 11 of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone, which upholds the right of journalists to inform the public and hold institutions accountable.
CBJ-SL views this incident not only as an unprofessional and unlawful act by members of the Sierra Leone Police but also as a grave threat to press freedom and an affront to the democratic principles our nation stands for, when police officers who are entrusted with upholding the law become perpetrators of violence against the media, they undermine public trust and tarnish the integrity of the force.
Such behavior is unacceptable and must not be allowed to go unpunished. The press plays a critical role in a functioning democracy. Journalists must be free to operate without fear, intimidation, or physical harm, a n attack on one journalist is an attack on the entire media fraternity and, by extension, on the people’s right to know.
CBJ-SL therefore calls on the Inspector General of Police, Mr. William Fayia Sellu, to launch a full and impartial investigation into this matter and take appropriate disciplinary and legal action against all officers involved. Accountability is essential if we are to restore confidence in the Sierra Leone Police and safeguard democratic values.
We further call on civil society, the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), human rights defenders, and the international media community to stand in solidarity with the affected journalist and with all media practitioners across the country who continue to work under increasingly dangerous conditions.
The Central Based Journalists of Sierra Leone remains committed to promoting press freedom, journalistic safety, and responsible reporting in the interest of transparency and justice.
Copy right –Printed in the Expo Times News on Monday, May 26TH, 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
