As part of proactive steps to curb violence and cultism prior to the country’s 50th independence anniversary celebrations, the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) sponsored by the Justice Section Coordination Office (JSCO) has introduced a new strategy in the fight against violence, thuggery and cultism among youths in Sierra Leone.

In a sensitization meeting held on Sunday 17th April 2011 at the John F. Kennedy School Hall in Freetown, the Sierra Leone Police, in collaboration with the Freetown Players Cultural Group, the Local Policing Partnership Board (LPPB) and the National Youth Coalition, engaged various youth groups from across the city on the need to ignore violence and cultism for a better future.

Giving an overview of the violence free campaign, the Head of Police Media and Communications, ASP Ibrahim Samura, said the meeting was aimed at engaging and transforming the polluted minds of youths from violence to acceptable societal practices through the use of drama, especially at a time like this when the country is celebrating 50 years of independence.

According to ASP Samura, the collaboration among the organizers is aimed at achieving a peaceful and memorable golden jubilee celebration, while urging the participants to widely disseminate the violence free message among their peers. 

The police boss said it is an open secret that youths have got themselves indoctrinated with cultic and violence ideologies, while advising the youths that such activities will only damage their future.

He furthered that dozens of youths and school going pupils have been arrested by the police for various deadly crimes including riotous conducts and stabbings, noting that such youths are being prosecuted and jailed as nobody is above the law.

Samura used the forum as an opportunity to call on parents to according take care of their children so as to preserve a brighter future.

He confessed that the police cannot fight crime alone, while calling on all and sundry to put hands on deck to eliminate crimes in the country, especially among youths.

Head of Community Relations in the SLP, newly promoted Chief Superintendent Memunatu Konteh expressed dismay over the negligence being exhibited by parents in monitoring their children.

CSP Konteh advised the parents to restrain their children from associating themselves with bad friends and inscribing tattoos all over their bodies, while describing such tattoos as symbols of cultic societies.

Other important contributions were made by the outgoing Local Unit Commander for the Harbor Police Division CSP Sovula, the Chairman National Youth Coalition Al-Sankoh Conteh, CEO and Director Freetown Player Cultural Group Charlie Hafner among others.