By- Aruna Rashed Toma Bangura

The cyber unit of the criminal investigation department on Monday 13th March, 2023 at the police headquarters received four computer laptops and other equipment as donation from the National Cyber Coordination Centre headed by Madam Mariama Yva Nyuma to up their game in the robust fight against cyber-crimes in Sierra Leone.

In his statement, the Director of Crime services for the CID headquarters, Abraham Joseph Lahai said the national cyber coordinator, Mariama Yva Nyuma has been very instrumental ever since the police came to the realization that a new crime and pattern of committing crime has once again sprang up and this time round they refer to such crime as cyber offenses.

He stated that cyber-crime was a threat to the police, but as an institution charged with the onus of fighting crime, it was not that too much of a threat, adding that they summoned an emergency meeting and started off by setting up the Cyber Unit at the CID headquarters. He said they have series of challenges because the crimes were new and they were in need of training and logistics.

The Director of Crime Services Abraham Joseph Lahai, stated that the management board of the police was quick to provide basic local and international trainings to tackle cyber-crimes, adding that it was furthered strengthened when the central government pass the bill into law in parliament because there were no laws relating to cyber-crime in the country.

He said criminals of nowadays have moved from traditional offenses to committing crime digitally and, he said that because the crime was new the Inspector General and his team was able to convince the central government for laws to be put in place as cyber laws were then established and passed into law in parliament, which he said has strengthened the police in their fight on cyber-crimes.

He said the police received support from organizations from other countries like Egypt, China, India et al, adding that China provided training for 120 police personnel across the country on investigating cyber-crimes.

He stated that India sent in four Professors that provided training and logistics for the police to fight cyber-crimes and, since then they have been on top of the situation and it is evident based on the series of report they are getting across the four corners of the country. He said people are now fully aware that the police are capable of investigating cyber-crimes.

Abraham Joseph Lahai stated that the central government deemed it necessary that a cyber-coordinating unit must be established and is on that basis the National Cyber Coordination Centre was set up and headed by Madam Mariama Nyuma, adding that the latter recently provided training for top police officers.

He expressed sincere thanks and appreciation to the National cyber coordinator for the donated items whom he described as very mindful of the threat of cyber-crimes.

In her official remarks, the National Cyber Coordinator Mariama Yva Nyuma, stated that the cyber security was legislated in 2021, and as part of the act, the National Cyber Coordination Centre was created.

She said one of their core mandates is supporting the police and the judiciary and its prosecutors in fighting cyber-crimes, adding that cyber-crimes are new and not like traditional crimes.

Mariama Nyuma said cyber-crimes are committed by using computer laptops, mobile phones, iPad, the internet and mobile networks. She disclosed that since they know the crime is new, they first of all strengthened the law enforcement agency because it could be difficult for them to fight cyber-crime.

She furthered that the Cyber Coordination Centre has done series of trainings ranging from the police and judiciary both in and out of the country as they recently held training session for both the police and judiciary prosecutors. She said one thing that they have realized is that they need to make sure that all those involve know the provision and how they will be able to prosecute their crimes appropriately. She added that they trained the prosecutors in maintaining, gathering and processing of evidence.

Mariama Yva Nyuma stated that the donation by her was to bolster police effort in tackling cyber-crimes while she said the police do have something but they need to make sure that they have all the necessary gadgets for them to do their work properly.

She described the donation as a force support in eradicating cyber-crime, adding that she admonished the Cyber Unit at the CID to fully utilize the donated equipment for its intended purpose so that they will be able to benefit more from their donor partners.

The Minister of Information and Communication, Mohamed Rahman Swarray in his official statement disclosed that Sierra Leone was among the long list of countries that were named and shamed for not implementing the cyber laws because it was part of the condition precedent for the landing of the fibre cable in the country. He said that African president including former president Koroma have signed up to the Malibu accord which he said is the African blue print for cyber security and data protection, adding that ECOWAS has passed the directives on cyber security and data protection. He said all of those laws have been put in place but said Sierra Leone has not moved a needle.

Mohamed Rahman Swarray said he made a passionate appeal to the global community that Sierra Leone wants to be a law abiding and respectable member of the global committee of nations.

He said cyber-crime is not about politics but about protecting critical information like banks, telecom operators.

He noted that president Julius Maada Bio’s appointment was no mistake as he disclosed that Mariama Nyuma is the only female cyber security coordinator in West Africa.

Rhado Swarray said that the development partner community is quite happy with them because they are doing the right things and the European Union via ECOWAS has donated equipment that is awaiting installation to strengthen their capacity to fight cyber- crimes.

He said that in 2018 when they took over governance 12% Sierra Leoneans were connected but said 32.2% are now connected which he described as a quantum lead in just four short years and is said to grow by 20% every year. He continued that it was very important they were able to put the necessary legislation and infrastructure in place to be able to prosecute cyber dependent and enable offenses which he said the police have been battling with their bare hands.

Mohamed Rahman Swarray reiterated that the cyber-crime laws is not about politics as it grants more fundamental right and freedom than the period before it was passed into law.