ILLEGAL BIKE RIDERS POLICE GANGS CAUSING TROUBLE BUT WHO CARES?
Sometime ago we warned against this tendency for Trade Union groups to form what amounts to their own police forces to enforce their own bye-laws. Traders, Motor Drivers, Okada Riders all have their own police officers operating freely alongside the national and municipal police throughout the country. When news came through on social media in the last 48 hours that a Bike rider Police had chased an Okada Man to his death in Bo in the process of enforcing a bye-law, it came as no surprise.
The poor man's family has lost a definite bread winner. We know that the whole thing will be handled in a traditional way with a lot of food and booze and that will be the end.
1. Why should the National Police allow reckless people like Bike Riders to deploy their own men with police powers on the streets. They have created a lot of atrocities like this recent case in Bo. Can't IG Munu dismantle this Bike Rider force immediately?
2. Is it not easy to understand that the whole arrangement is extremely corrupt? How are these people being paid? They are cheating their own colleagues with the authority of a police force. Where is IG Munu?
3. What's Munu's reaction to the fact that a group of Biker Riders actually ransacked their own offices after the Shellmingo incident? We believe that it was a spontaneous reaction against oppression. The base from which the oppressors operate was a definite target.
4. How would Munu react if he woke up one morning to find MEDIA POLICE standing outside all media houses? Why not? Bike Riders have theirs.
5. Who actually trained these Bike Rider officers? Are they trained in fact?
BO POLICE ENCOURAGE VIGILANTES TO FIGHT ARMED ROBBERY
We will stay with the police in Bo for a while because it seems they are making a serious mistake that might come back to haunt them and the community. We understand that in a bid to fight armed robbery gangs distressing the people of Bo, the police there have allowed vigilante groups to set up civilian police units found at road junctions throughout the city.
So what's this again in the second capital? Armed robbery is a big problem even in the capital and there's nothing wrong with ordinary people stepping up to defend themselves when it appears the state is unable to discharge its primary duties. But here are a few concerns:
1. The vigilante boys (and they are mostly boys) should be very careful with the police. We have some experience here in Freetown with vigilante boys being shot and killed in what was later described as a FRIENDLY FIRE incident. No problem but we lost two boys.
2. By the way, did the police do any background checks on any of the people now serving with the vigilantes? Isn't it possible that some of the criminals have infiltrated those groups to gain intelligence on operations?
3. Would the police then go as far as providing them holding facilities? There are some vigilante groups operating in far flung communities who are very busy now chasing the criminal thrown out of Bo. Give them their own cell blocks and the next minute we will be talking about torture - gross human rights abuse.
4. Who is paying for the vigilante operation please? Are they harassing community people to pay extra cash for their security? That's not cool, is it?
5. For how long will this operation last? Is there a plan by which the vigilantes will be disbanded?
WORLD WATER DAY BUT HOW MUCH OF IT DO WE HAVE
Another World Water Day has come and gone. Minister Pikin Maligie has made a big speech talking about a new Dam at Rokel. Come on bro, we've heard that many times. For us, this is just one of those ministerial speeches, full of weasel words that we allow to pass like the wind - absolutely no impact.
And this is not because we hold Pikin Maligie responsible for the current problem. Governments past and present simply failed to take the necessary steps to make sure every home in this capital gets running water or some reliable supply system. We Pikin Maligie was appointed to that post, we thought he was handed a poisoned chalice but he sounded so optimistic that we thought that like Moses, he would simply strike the rock for water to flow. Three years on, things have deteriorated in Freetown in particular. If not for SALWACO, we would be saying the same for the regions.
1. While Pikin Maligie does this yearly ritual called World Water Day, let him reflect a bit on the reality in the homes in Freetown and stop the unnecessary speech-making. Most people went to sleep the moment they saw the headlines about Rokel Dam.
2. We are counting the number of girls who are being impregnated by criminals while they go around communities very early in the morning looking for water. We will hold Pikin Maligie responsible for their welfare.
3. We are also taking stock of the hundreds of children, who in the process of fetching water to keep their homes running, have dropped out of school. They include those who sell water to make a living during school hours.
4. We appeal to Pikin Maligie to supply TEN JERRY CANS to each household in Freetown. That will be a good start.
5. Can Pikin Maligie also tackle the huge waste taking place along the supply lines to the few homes and stand pipes in Freetown? Too much waste. How can we waste so much water when we have not a single drop of the precious commodity to drink?
A FEW MORE MATCHES TO GO IN THE EPL, CAN LEICESTER HOLD ON?
Almost all respected football pundits are still refusing to call this year's EPL for the unexpected leaders, Leicester City. They are all waiting until it becomes mathematically impossible for the chasing pack to beat them to the line. So we have a few weeks more for that determination to be made.
Whatever happens now, we have to congratulate Leicester City for many things, not just because they have shaken the traditional big boys out of their complacency but because they have given people like us something extra to write about. Here goes:
1. Leicester are running on less than a quarter of the budget of Manchester City, the club which believe that all the world's problems can be solved with money.
2. The coach is like a nomad who has been all over looking for success with big clubs in England, his native Italy and France. He may well have found a home.
3. Leicester can boast of fantastic teamwork. They have players few people have ever heard about ad do not make a show of anything other than winning on the pitch.
4. For weeks now pundits have been quietly hoping they collapse so that they will run to their media houses and say I told you so. It doesn't look like happening this year.
5. Coach Ranieri started life as a Chelsea coach at a time he couldn't speak a single word of English. He had to hire a translator to help out. He may well pretend to have lost the little English he knows now, should Leicester suffer a catastrophic collapse at the very end. He will definitely be sacked.
(C) Politico 24/03/16
