Freetown, Sierra Leone – In a proactive move to maintain law and order, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Mohamed Turay of the Congo Cross Police Division engaged local commercial motorbike riders during a recent visit to Wilberforce, Bottom Mango, in Freetown.
The initiative aimed to clarify concerns regarding a rumored demonstration by the Bottom Mango Bike Riders, who were allegedly considering a protest due to police restrictions on trading and erection of structures in designated prohibited areas.
CSP Turay’s engagement followed three prior meetings, in which he, alongside the Operations Officer, Community Relations Department, and Local Policing Partnership Board members, advised the riders and traders to refrain from operating in these restricted zones, particularly near embassies and diplomatic facilities.
In a collaborative effort, all stakeholders agreed on an alternative location where bike riders could conduct their activities. Following this agreement, a special operation was executed to remove unauthorized structures within the restricted areas, including makeshift setups belonging to the Bottom Mango riders.
This decision was made in response to Mr. Saio Sesay, the Chairman of the Bottom Mango Bike Riders Union, whose insistence on erecting structures in the streets raised concerns. His actions faced strong opposition from Mr. Sajor, the Bike Riders Chairman of the Freetown West District, who underscored the importance of maintaining peace.
He warned that any outbreak of violence would lead to the immediate closure of their park and pledged cooperation with police to address any unrest.
The engagement proved successful, with CSP Turay and his team successfully persuading the bike riders to adhere to legal guidelines and actively collaborate with the police to counter criminal activities in the Congo Cross Division and surrounding areas.
SLP Media Team.
