In a landmark move to reinforce inter-agency collaboration, the Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Amara Idara Bangura, paid a courtesy visit to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr William Fayia Sellu, at the Senior Police Officers’ Mess, Kingtom Police Barracks.
Lieutenant General Bangura was accompanied by a delegation of newly promoted senior military officers. The visit, hailed as historic by the IGP, aimed to strengthen operational synergy and mutual understanding between the police and the military.
IGP Sellu congratulated the newly elevated military officers, describing their visit as a significant gesture in fostering institutional harmony. He underscored the importance of inter-agency cooperation, stressing that effective security delivery requires collaboration, not isolation.
“One agency’s strength complements the other’s weakness,” IGP Sellu said, citing the ongoing Police-Military Cooperation (POMIC) training programme as a key initiative to enhance joint operations nationwide. He also proposed the establishment of joint social engagements to build camaraderie between personnel of the two forces.
In his response, Lieutenant General Bangura echoed the IGP’s sentiments, noting that national security could not be sustained without close coordination between the police and the military. “Just like two hands clapping, our collaboration is vital for peace and stability,” he remarked.
The CDS highlighted successful joint initiatives such as the provision of motorbikes to boost patrols at border crossing points. He emphasised the public’s growing confidence in the security sector, particularly when both institutions present a united front.
Lieutenant General Bangura also referenced praise from President Dr Julius Maada Bio, who commended the unprecedented cooperation between the armed forces and the police. He called on military commanders to replicate this partnership at the regional level with their police counterparts.
The visit concluded with a joint agreement to establish a technical cooperation team that will develop social and professional engagement activities aimed at further strengthening institutional ties.
Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to continue collaboration in safeguarding Sierra Leone’s peace and security