William Fayia Sellu
The Sierra Leone Police (SLP) is facing mounting scrutiny following a press release addressing serious allegations regarding the treatment of former United Nations Peacekeeping officers who have recently returned to the country.
These officers, reportedly detained at the Sierra Leone Police Headquarters (SLPHQ), have been subjected to what many are describing as inhumane treatment and illegal solitary confinement. In its press release, the SLP attempted to clarify the situation by stating that the Formed Police Unit (FPU-4) was deployed at the Police Headquarters and other locations nationwide.
The SLP emphasized that this deployment should not be misconstrued as detention or solitary confinement. According to the police, the officers have been granted access to their families whenever they wish, and are receiving adequate support from management regarding their welfare and upkeep.
The SLP insists that their deployment at the Police Headquarters is akin to the placements of other police officers stationed throughout the country.
However, the press release has left many questions unanswered, sparking outrage among the public and former police officials alike. A former senior police officer, who chose to remain anonymous, expressed bewilderment over the decision to keep a group of officers, who recently returned from a peacekeeping mission in Somalia, stationed at the Police Headquarters indefinitely. He pointed out that standard practice typically includes “Rest and Recuperation” (R&R) during deployments, allowing officers to return home and spend time with their families. He stressed that the SLP should strive to balance the time officers spend deployed, with their time at home, referred to as “Dwell Time.”
The press release inadvertently confirmed what many have speculated: the alleged ‘deployment’ at the Police Headquarters car park has lasted for eleven months, with no opportunity for the officers to visit their homes. This revelation has raised further concerns about the treatment and mental well-being of the former peacekeepers.
Public sentiment is increasingly critical, with individuals like Obayomi Pratt questioning whether this extended deployment is a form of punishment or a standard procedure as claimed by the SLP. Pratt highlighted the absurdity of the Inspector General of Police ordering the deployment of 160 former peacekeeping officers to the SLPHQ car park for such an extended period, without allowing them to reconnect with their families.
As this issue continues to garner public attention, there is a growing demand for transparency and clarification from the SLP regarding the nature of this so-called permanent deployment. Many are calling for answers about the legality of the confinement and the overall health status of the ex-peacekeeping officers, with further developments expected in upcoming editions. The situation remains a pressing concern for both the families of the officers involved and the broader Sierra Leonean community.
