The Regional Office of the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion has held a Peace Dialogue between senior Police Officers and the executive of Bike riders in Port Loko at the Commission’s 12 Watfa Street office.
The purpose of the meeting was to mend the increasingly strained relationship between the police and Bike riders in Port Loko resulting from the unfortunate incident of May 10th 2024, when a Bike rider was shot dead by a Police officer.
The meeting attracted key stakeholders in the district including the City Mayor, District Council Chairman, LUC Port Loko police Division, Provincial Secretary Northwest region, DSCord ONS and Senior Police officers from both the district and region.
Larry Johnson, ICPNC Peace Monitor welcomed the guest on behalf of the commission, while Acting Regional Coordinator Amb. Francis Patterson did the declaration of purpose and also gave a brief background of the commission.
Speakers at the meeting showered praises on the work of commission in fostering peace in the district. Amara Dumbuya who spoke on behalf of Bike riders Union, said his experience as a trained  Peace Monitor helped him a lot to preach Peace and calm down  his colleagues during the saga.
City Mayor Alie Badara Tarawallie assured the meeting that nothing will change the venue of the trial of the police officer involved, and admonished the bike riders to remain law abiding and stay off violence. The representative of the AIG Manfred Williams asked that the friendship that had existed between them and the riders continue.
The meeting ended with discussions on the way forward, with emphasis on more community and media engagements To conclude, the District Council Chairman Sheku Tejan Saccoh pledged the council’s support to the work of the commission in the district
Meanwhile in Mange, the Paramount Chief, PC Daniel Hinga Marray and one Councilor Morlai Sesay, who were once arch enemies, have not only settled their differences but are now working amicably to serve the people of Mange. This follows mediation undertaken by the Peace Commission Northwest region office  few months ago. Both parties expressed gratitude to the commission for its intervention in resolving the impasse.
