Freetown, Sierra Leone – Veteran journalist Thomas Dixon, Chairman of Sierra Leone’s Guild of Newspaper Editors and publisher of the New Age Newspaper, has confirmed he is facing imminent detention by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID).
Dixon told The Gleaner that CID’s Director of Cybersecurity, Kabba Lavalie, informed him he would be held after submitting a written statement.
The move comes after Leone Rock Metal Group (LRMG), a Chinese-owned mining company operating in Tonkolili, filed a formal complaint against the newspaper.
The complaint centers on a New Age News Alert highlighting an alleged dispute between LRMG and the National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT).
The state pension body had reportedly issued a criminal summons against LRMG’s Chief Executive Officer for non-compliance with statutory obligations. Following the publication, LRMG accused the paper of cyberbullying and cyberstalking, prompting CID’s intervention.
Dixon, a seasoned editor known for his outspoken stance on accountability, said the looming detention raises broader concerns about media freedom in Sierra Leone.
“This is about more than me; it’s about whether journalists can report on powerful institutions without fear of intimidation,” he noted.
The case has sparked debate among media professionals and civil society groups, who argue that legitimate reporting should not be criminalized under cybersecurity laws. They caution that such actions could have a chilling effect on press freedom at a time when transparency in governance and corporate practices is critical.
Neither LRMG nor NASSIT has issued a public statement since news of the detention plans emerged.
