…police invokes Mac-P
August 17, 2016 By Memunatu Bangura
Police Media Boss, Assistant Superintendent Brima Kamara yesterday confirmed to Concord Times that 3 people were reported dead in the Kabala riot, while 20 youths were arrested and were helping the police with investigations.
He added that the security sector further decided to invoke the Military Aid to Civil Power (Mac-P) ,so as to quell the situation on the ground.
“We cannot determine as to whether police killed anybody, but the fact is that three people were reported dead. Police did what they were supposed to do but it was the decision of the security sector to invoke Mac-P,” he said.
He further told Concord Times that the situation in Kabala town was quiet and calm with the Mac-P fully in charge, while the police has launched a formal investigation into the issue.
Although the police boss has denied any police killing in the said riot, reports are that they used live bullets to disperse the riotous youths.
Meanwhile, President of the National Youths Coalition,Morlia Conteh has demanded immediate investigation into the killing of the three youths, adding that the government should also investigate who gave the police instructions to fire live bullets.
“Government should also investigate as to whether the police used tear gas, hot water, talk to the people through megaphones or other ways to calm the situation before using live bullets,” he questioned.
The disgruntle youths, who protested against government decision to allegedly move the youth village from Kabala in the Koinadugu District to Mile 91 in the Tonkolili, burnt down the house of the Local Unit Commander and the offices of the All People’s Congress Party (APC) and the National Electoral Commission .
Morlia charged that the police were most times unprofessional in the way they handle situation, especially in cases of riot.
He however condemned the act of the youths to have taken the law into their own hands, adding that the person that misinformed them about the transfer of the youth village project to another district should be investigated and brought to book.