THE MEDIA AND PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT OF THE SIERRA LEONE POLICE (SLP) IS INUNDATED WITH CALLS AND OTHER ENQUIRIES FROM THE PRESS SEEKING TO ASCERTAIN THE VERACITY OF ALLEGED REPORTS/COMPLAINTS OF KIDNAPPING OF CHILDREN AND THE SAID KIDNAPPERS DEMANDING RANSOMS BEFORE RELEASE.
THE SLP IS OF THE FIRM CONVICTION THAT THESE ENQUIRIES COULD HAVE BEEN NECESSITATED BY A KIND OF PUBLIC ALARM ATTRIBUTABLE TO A VIDEO WIDELY MAKING ROUNDS ON SOCIAL MEDIA, BACKED BY AN AUDIO MESSAGE OF A WOMAN CLAIMING TO BE THE MOTHER OF THE SCHOOL GIRL PORTRAYED IN THE VIDEO TO HAVE BEEN KIDNAPPED.
MANAGEMENT OF THE SLP WOULD LIKE THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT NO EVIDENCE OR RECORDS EXIST AT ANY OF THE OFFICES OF THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS DEPARTMENT TO SUBSTANTIATE CLAIMS OF RAMPANT KIDNAPPINGS OF CHILDREN WITHIN SIERRA LEONE AND RANSOMS DEMANDED FOR THEIR RELEASE.
LET IT BE KNOWN THAT THE WIDELY CIRCULATED VIDEO PORTRAYED TO BE A KIDNAPPING INCIDENT OF A SCHOOL GIRL WAS SWIFTLY AND THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATED BY CID HEADQUARTERS; AND IT ANNOYINGLY TURNED OUT TO BE A FALSE ALARM CREATED WITH AN UNDERLYING CONSPIRATORIAL TENDENCY TO DECEIVE THE POLICE AND THE UNSUSPECTING PUBLIC.
BE FURTHER INFORMED THAT CID HEADQUARTERS WILL CONTINUE TO PROBE INTO THE SAID REPORT AND/OR VIDEO WITH THE VIEW TO DETERMINING THE MOTIVE AND INTENT OF THE ALLEGED KIDNAPPER AND KIDNAPPED INDIVIDUAL.
THE FINAL OUTCOME OF THE PROBE WILL HELP TO PINPOINT SPECIFIC SOLUTIONS AS TO HOW TO DETER ANY FURTHER SCHEME OF THIS NATURE AIMED AT CREATING UNNECESSARY PUBLIC ALARM AKIN TO WHAT SUBSISTS AT THE MOMENT.
THE SLP AS THE INSTITUTION CHARGED WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE SOCIAL ORDER AND PUBLIC SAFETY WISHES TO ALLAY THE FEARS OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC BY UNEQUIVOCALLY STATING THAT KIDNAPPINGS OF WHATEVER SORT ARE UNCOMMON CRIMES IN SIERRA LEONE.
BE REST ASSURED THAT THE POLICE WILL NOT RELENT IN HER DRIVE TO CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE CRIME SITUATION IN THE COUNTRY AND TO APPROPRIATELY RESPOND TO ANY THREAT TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND OTHER SECURITY CONCERNS.
SIGNED:
SLP – MEDIA AND PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT
POLICE HEADQUARTERS,
GEORGE STREET,
FREETOWN.
27 SEPTEMBER, 2021.
(+232) 77361070/507955
