…Journalist Ngozi Obi Sesay Wanted by the Police
By Desmond John
Sierra Leonean freelance Journalist, Ngozi Obi Sesay, is on the run after an alleged social media post accusing the government of extra judicial killings. This accusation came in the wake of the refusal by government to hand over bodies of those killed during the August 10th 2022 to their loved ones and family.
On the early hours of December 16th 2022 police raided the home of Ngozi Obi Sesay accusing the journalist of a social media post accusing the government of extra judicial killings. The raid on the home of the journalist is also connected to a number of articles written in the past critical of the Julius Maada Bio’s led government.
A recent article titled “As the Fog Of Silence Descend” according to the police defame the security sector and putting the government in bad light to the international community.
Just after the social media post, police raided the home of Madam Ngozi Obi Sesay, who according to report was nowhere to be seen.
Ngozi Obi Sesay’s various social media posts is also said to have incite public unrest accusing the government of the 2020 Pademba Road Prison massacre and the killings of innocent civilians on August 10th 2022.
Ngozi’s articles and recent social media posts is of security concerns according to the police, leaving the state security with no alternative but to raid her home and invite the journalist for questioning.
The Freelance journalist has so far refused to honour police invitation on the pretext that she will be sent to jail without due process. Her recent social media post in a whatsap group alleged that the government continue to undertake extra judicial killings warranting the police to raid her premises.
With the journalist whereabouts unknown, Ngozi is now wanted by the police as she continue to accuse the government of human rights abuses in the country.
“Ngozi Obi Sesay’s article on the incidents of August 10th 2022 is dangerous and fall short of the dictates of objective journalism.
This is not good for our country, Police spokesperson Brima Kamara told a news conference.
‘’Her social media post contravene the Cyber Crime Law and also has the tendency to create unrest in the country. We will not sit by and allow a single journalist to plung this country into chaos, Brima Kamara said further.
The freelance journalist if arrested, prosecuted and found wanting could go to jail for a very long time.
Ngozi Obi Sesay according to information is now on the run and she is nowhere to be found.
It is not clear how she happened to have dodged the police, but this medium is reliably informed that Ngozi has depart the shore of the country.
Journalists in Sierra Leone still faces difficulties in doing their work despite the repeal of the 1965 public order act that criminalises libel. Journalists continue to be harass, and sometimes detain for been critical of government
Ngozi Obi Sesay now found herself in this situation based on articles and social media posts, deemed to be critical and bias of government.
