In an official press release issued last eveing of 11th April, SLAJ said journalists Patrick Jaiah Kamara of Concord Times newspaper, Ibrahim Samura- Publisher of New Age newspaper, and Thomas Dixon- Editor of Salone Times newspaper were among journalists physically assaulted on polling day around Lumley, Freetown, by thugs allegedly on the orders of members of the All People’s Congress (APC) including Sanusi Bruski, former Mayor of Freetown City Council Herbert George-Williams, Deputy Minister of Trade Ibrahim Washingai Mansaray, and former PRO of the Ministry of Agriculture, Abubakarr Daramy.
The journalists’ only crime the release went on was using their cameras to take footages of incidents happening around MAFA field and the Lumley roundabout in the west of Freetown, respectively. Eye witness accounts claimed the attacks happened in the full view of Police and Army officers.
SLAJ said the affected journalists reported the two separate matters to the Lumley Police Station and they were referred for medical attention, while further calling on the APC Secretariat/party to earnestly look into the complaint the Association lodged against the party’s members who were named in the allegations.
SLAJ President, Kelvin Lewis, said: “We place high premium on the safety and security of our members. Impunity should not be allowed to continue. The Police (and the APC) must take appropriate action against the culprits.”
Meanwhile, “we call on all journalists to continue to take their safety and security as paramount as they go about their coverage of the post-elections process” the release ended.
