Northeast Region Police collaborates with Civilians for historic year-end celebration

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson In a remarkable demonstration of strong collaboration between the police and civilians, the Sierra Leone Police in the Northeast region joined forces with the Local Police Partnership Board (LPPB) to organize a momentous week-long celebration in Makeni. The objective of this weeklong event was to redefine the perception of the Sierra Leone Police by bringing policing activities to the community, promoting effective and professional law enforcement. The festivities commenced on Wednesday with a peace march along the main streets of Makeni city, featuring police personnel from various divisions in the northeast region. The peace march also included representatives from other security sector entities such as the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces, Sierra Leone Correctional Center, Sierra Leone Fire Force, Office of the National Security, as well as traders, journalists, and other important stakeholders in the region. Furthermore, the celebration entailed an inter-divisional athletics sports meeting, where police officers from the Makeni, Magburaka, Panlap, and the Regional Headquarters divisions competed. Each division was represented by a distinctive colour- Yellow, Orange, Mauve, and Blue respectively. In an exciting turn of events, the Northeast Regional Police Headquarters, represented by the colour Blue, emerged as the champion with 371 points. Panlap, represented by Mauve, secured second place with 346 points, while Magburaka and Makeni divisions, represented by Orange and Yellow, respectively, finished in third and fourth place with 283 and 272 points. On the third day of this historic end-of-year celebration, Muslim police officers gathered alongside key Muslim stakeholders and civilians in the early morning hours of Friday for open prayers. During this solemn moment, verses from the Holy Quran were recited at the Mena Police Barracks field, as they implored God Almighty to bless the country with peace and harmony. They also prayed for the continued favour and prosperity of both police officers and all citizens of Sierra Leone. In the evening, an unprecedented end-of-year party and certificate ceremony took place at the regional police parade ground on Mena hills. The event included speeches from Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Aiah Edward Samadia, as well as the Local Unit Commanders of the Makeni, Panlap, and Magburaka police units. Representatives from the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces, Office of the National Security, and the media also gave remarks, making it a truly inclusive gathering. Speaker after speaker at the event emphasized the importance of an ongoing partnership between the police and civilians for effective and proactive law enforcement. They expressed their delight at being part of such a historic occasion, which celebrated the positive working relationship between the Sierra Leone Police and the community in the Northeast region. Special acknowledgement was given to the city and district council leaders, the Office of National Security (ONS), the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF), the Sierra Leone Police (SLP), and the Local Policing Partnership Board (LPPB) for their collaborative efforts in recent times. During his keynote address, A.I.G Samadia commended the Inspector General of Police, William Fayia Sellu, for his outstanding leadership and support in rebranding the image of the Sierra Leone Police. He also expressed gratitude to the personnel, LPPB, military, media, and other civilian stakeholders in the northeast region for their cooperation and support since he assumed the role of AIG in May 2023. The region was previously notorious for politically motivated uprisings. The AIG further called for on-going collaboration and pledged to continue his campaign against unprofessional policing. He emphasized the need to eradicate the production and distribution of illicit drugs, such as Kush, and other harmful substances in his jurisdiction. Furthermore, he stressed the importance of maintaining peace and order, appealing to all Sierra Leoneans to rally behind his efforts to improve the Sierra Leone Police and transform it into a more effective force for the greater good. Nevertheless, Sergeant John Abass Kamara, the media leader for the regional police, has verified that the festivities will culminate on Sunday with a gracious thanksgiving ceremony that will encompass an inclusive prayer, specifically for the Christian personnel and civilians, where verses from the Holy Bible shall be recited at the Mena Police Barracks parade grounds. He reveals that the purpose of this sacred gathering is to beseech the benevolence of the Almighty, imploring for divine blessings of tranquillity and unity upon the nation of Sierra Leone. Furthermore, the prayer will also seek the continual favour and prosperity bestowed upon the diligent police officers and all the citizens of Sierra Leone.