By- Aruna Rashed Toma Bangura

The Chairperson for the National Elections Watch (NEW), Marcella Samba Sesay has said they will hold the Sierra Leone Police accountable for any intimidation and incitement that will occur to violence and civil unrests, adding that she is calling on the Inspector General of Police, William Fayia Sellu to maintain neutrality and independence and to embark on constructive citizens engagement. She said the police cannot continue to use force in this version and appealed to the security sector to put country first.

Speaking on Radio Democracy 98.1 ‘Gud Morning Salone’ show, the NEW Chairperson, Marcella Samba Sesay disclosed that during 2018 general elections she was the one who led the procession to the Sierra Leone People’s (SLPP) party flagbearer’s house to console him on the violence perpetrated by the then ruling government on March 8th, 2018. She noted that there is high intimidation from the side of the police and called the Chief Electoral Commissioner, Mohamed Kenewui Konneh to do due diligence to the results and to do proper collation.

According to the NEW Chairperson, if the police failed to secure the country within the global standard, NEW will call them out and admonished Leaders of the SLPP and APC party to maintain peace and let the people choose their president for the next five years. She said the citizens are the employers as the politicians have done bit during the campaigns and now up to the voting masses to choose their employee.

In response via telephone interview, the public relation officer for the Sierra Leone Police, Brima Kamara said the country is relatively peaceful, adding that the SLP provided watertight security for both political parties Headquarters which he described as preventive policing.

Brima Kamara commonly known as Media One said on Sunday evening, members and supporters of the APC converged for a press conference and during that course; he said some supporters of the APC blocked the main Oldrailway line as there were no vehicular movements. And this he said prompted the police to have an engagement with the hierarchy of the APC but said proved fruitless and as the crowd continued to swell they were left with no choice than to disperse the crowd by firing teargas canisters. He admitted that no live bullet was fired and did not have any report of anybody being killed by the police. He said that they fired teargas canisters to free up the main road that was blocked by some supporters and reiterated that they do not have any records of death or person being admitted or taken to the mortuary.