By Alpha Amadu Jalloh
Mr. President, it is with a heavy heart that I am here with you again, addressing yet another tragedy in our beloved Sierra Leone. News outlets are buzzing with reports of an alleged coup attempt on your government. If these reports are true, then it is indeed a sad moment for our nation. It is disheartening to see that the quest for power continues to manifest in violence, leaving a trail of blood and sorrow across our land.
However, what troubles me even more, Mr. President, is the aftermath of this alleged coup attempt. Shortly after the news broke, graphic photos of two dead fugitives surfaced online, and a press statement quickly followed from your trusted Minister of Information. The statement claimed that the security forces, acting on “reliable information,” found the alleged fugitives hiding in Waterloo, where a confrontation led to their deaths.
I must ask you, Mr. President: Why are you allowing the security forces to take the law into their own hands? Not a single eyewitness from the Waterloo area has come forward to corroborate the official narrative of a shootout. Instead, we are left with conflicting stories, gruesome images, and unanswered questions. The people of Sierra Leone deserve transparency, not scripted press releases designed to justify what appears to be a troubling pattern of extrajudicial killings.
Mr. President, let us remember that you once stood before the nation and expunged the death penalty from our law books, a decision that was met with praise from human rights activists and the international community. It was a sign of progress, a step toward aligning Sierra Leone with global standards of justice and human rights. Yet, despite the abolition of the death penalty, the number of deaths at the hands of security forces has skyrocketed.
We are witnessing extrajudicial killings, executions carried out without trial, without evidence presented in a court of law, and without the due process that every citizen of Sierra Leone is entitled to. Mr. President, this must stop.
Mr. President, there are many ways to neutralize suspects who resist arrest. Security forces are trained or should be trained to handle such situations without resorting to lethal force. Tear gas, rubber bullets, tasers, and negotiation tactics are just a few methods that can be employed to subdue suspects without ending their lives.
Why then, Mr. President, are we witnessing such a trigger-happy approach from those entrusted with the safety and security of our nation? Why are lethal means the first and seemingly only option? Are we so desensitized to violence that the lives of our fellow citizens, no matter how suspect their actions, can be snuffed out with impunity?
Mr. President, I urge you to remember this: The law has a very long arm, and it is blind to status, power, and privilege. Today, those in power may believe they are above the law, but history has shown us time and time again that justice catches up with everyone.
The day will come when those responsible for these extrajudicial killings will be held accountable. Whether it is in this life or the next, the scales of justice will balance, and the perpetrators of these crimes will answer for their actions. Mr. President, do not let your legacy be one of bloodshed and impunity.
I noticed, Mr. President, that you recently honoured the military personnel who lost their lives defending your government. It is right to recognize their service and sacrifice, but let us not overlook the broader picture. Are we not also responsible for the lives of those who perished under questionable circumstances? Are they not Sierra Leoneans too?
The blood of our brothers and sisters is being spilled on both sides, and it is our duty to ensure that justice is served, not vengeance. We have laws in this land, Mr. President. We have courts, judges, and a legal system designed to handle crimes and punish the guilty. Let us use these mechanisms instead of resorting to extrajudicial means that only deepen the wounds of our nation.
Mr. President, I must remind you of your statement in Bo earlier this year: “Bullet for Bullet.” At the time, those words may have seemed necessary to project strength in the face of rising tensions, but they have now taken on a life of their own. They have become a dangerous mantra for those within the security forces who are hungry for recognition and validation.
“Bullet for Bullet” should not be the guiding principle of governance. Strength is not measured by the number of bodies left in the wake of power struggles; it is measured by the ability to maintain peace, uphold justice, and protect the rights of all citizens, even those who stand accused.
Mr. President, we must restore sanity to our nation. We must rein in the trigger-happy individuals who have been given too much leeway to act as judge, jury, and executioner. These individuals, fueled by a desire for notoriety, are tarnishing the reputation of our security forces and eroding public trust in your administration.
Sierra Leone is a nation built on the rule of law, not the rule of the gun. If we continue down this path, we risk becoming a nation where fear reigns supreme, where citizens no longer trust their leaders or the institutions meant to protect them.
Mr. President, I implore you to take immediate action. Launch an Independent Investigation.
The circumstances surrounding the deaths of the alleged fugitives must be thoroughly investigated by an independent body. The truth must be uncovered, and those responsible must be held accountable.
Train and equip our security forces with non-lethal means of subduing suspects. Ensure that lethal force is only used as a last resort, in situations where there is an imminent threat to life. Publicly reaffirm your commitment to the rule of law and due process. Let the people of Sierra Leone know that justice will be served through legal channels, not through the barrel of a gun.
Those within the security forces who act outside the law must face consequences. Impunity cannot be tolerated, especially when it comes to the taking of human lives.
Mr. President, the path we are on is a dangerous one, but it is not too late to change course. You have the power to steer Sierra Leone toward a future where justice, peace, and the rule of law prevail.
Let history remember you not as a leader who ruled through fear and violence but as one who upheld the principles of justice, protected the lives of all citizens, and left a legacy of peace for future generations. The choice is yours, Mr. President. Choose wisely.
