By: Ibrahim Kabba Turay
Disabilities community on Wednesday 20th January, 2021 has condemned the brutality violence at waterloo on Sunday 13th January, 2020 on their members which eleven disabled persons were injured and millions of properties missing
In a press statement dated 20th January, 2021, which was read by Dr Abs Dumbuya, stated that to bring the attention of the Government of President Rtd. Brigadier Julius Maada Bio for the unfortunate and unprofessional conduct of some police officers in the waterloo division.
He read that in the early hours of Sunday the 17th January 2021 a group of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) from the House of Jesus for the disabled; went to the waterloo community to work on their land situate lying and being at off Waterloo Masiaka Highway, Western Rural District measuring 1.9603 Acres.
He said the land was given to them by the Government of Sierra Leone since 22nd January 2020 (RF. No. – MLHCP/WAT-DIS/613), Over time encroachers took over large portions of the land and started construction on it, unlawfully demolishing the Zinc structure that was constructed by House of Jesus
He continued that In order to seek redress, the leadership of (HOJ) engaged the Sierra Leone Police, The Ministry of Lands, The Ministry of Internal Affairs, The Anti-Corruption Commission, after they became aware that Mr. Habib Thorpe was directly responsible for the encroachment and sale of the said land. Unfortunately all efforts by the above institutions were disregarded with impunity by Mr. Thorpe and his representatives as they kept on encroaching and putting up new structures including a structure erected by a police inspector.
He further that With all avenues for redress within reach exhausted they arrived on the said land to dig a foundation for the reconstruction of their demolished structure, unfortunately there were unfinished structures interfering with the layout of a proposed plan that will enable their gradual relocation from the congested Bus Station residence to the allocated piece of land. Whilst there the Operations Commander of the waterloo division and his team arrived on the scene and advised members of HOJ to leave the said land as there is animosity building around.
Complying with his advice the membership moved peacefully towards the highway 555 junction to look for transport to return. Upon arrival at the junction, they were ambushed by the Local Unit Commander Musa Bandabla and his team who brutalized them, destroyed their assistive devices and arrested several of their members and took them to the Waterloo Police Station, alleging that there was a report against them for malicious damage.
On arrival at the Waterloo Police Station, the Police assumed they were there to cause mayhem and took a combative approach to their arrival beating and forcefully collecting their assistive devices compelling them to crawl on the ground like animals, despite the humble supplications of the SLUDi President
Dr Dumbuya said in recent years, the Sierra Leone Police have done a lot of rebranding, but over the years, with specific reference to 2011 and 2012, there was widespread police brutality on persons with disabilities especially in the Western Area
“To his Excellency the President you are the father of the nation and as your children we have been hurt and we cry for justice, we applaud your commitment towards disability issue as is evident by your National Address during the IDD, but we are calling on your distinguished office to translate words into action, by not allowing this great injustice against PwDs be swept under the carpet.” He concludes.
Lawyer Kofi, how is the lawyer of the disabilities community said that they are calling on the heads of police to suspend all the police personal that was involved in the violence attacked against their member.
Mohamed Bangali who is also a member of the (SLUD) said for far too long police have been doing all such of violence against them, noting that he is pleading to the President and the International community to intervened into the matter on the human right abused against their member.
