Freetown: The West Africa Network of Activists and Media Defence Lawyers (WANAMDEL) has condemned the alleged assault on one of its members, Mr Paul Kamara Esq., by police officers in Sierra Leone, and called for an independent investigation into the incident.
According to Ghana News Agency, the incident occurred on April 4, 2026, at the Adonkia Police Station in Freetown, where Mr Kamara had gone to follow up on investigations into the death of his colleague, Mr Augustine Sensie Bangura. WANAMDEL said after engaging officers at the Criminal Investigations Department of the station and joining sympathisers to console the bereaved family, Mr Kamara walked into a confrontation between a police officer and a civilian.
The network said Mr Kamara became a victim while attempting to de-escalate the situation. 'Kamara was physically assaulted, restrained and pepper-sprayed by another officer, despite identifying himself as a lawyer and a journalist,' the release said.
The release signed by 14 members of WANAMDEL and copied to the Ghana News Agency, expressed grave concern about the conduct of the police officers, noting that the actions amounted to intimidation, assault and excessive use of force, in clear disregard for the rule of law and professional policing standards.
The release further condemned the treatment meted out to Mr Kamara when he attempted to file a complaint at the station's Complaints Desk after the assault. It said he was met with indifference and ridicule by officers on duty and was only able to lodge his complaint following the intervention of a concerned citizen who contacted the Local Unit Police Commander.
WANAMDEL called for an immediate, independent and transparent investigation into the incident, the sanctioning of all officers involved, and the adoption of concrete measures to prevent a recurrence. 'The Sierra Leone Police must uphold their duty to protect the rights and dignity of all persons,' the release added.
WANAMDEL is a network of human rights lawyers established by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) to provide legal support to journalists, activists and media organisations across the sub-region. Its membership includes Samson Lardy-Anyenini, Zakaria Tanko-Musah and Martin Kpebu (Ghana); Augusto M¡rio da Silva (Guin©-Bissau); Dogbemin Kone (C´te d'Ivoire); Gloria Mabeiam Ballason and Mojirayo Oluwatoyin Ogunlana (Nigeria); Houssou Brice (Benin); Moussa Sarr (Senegal); Neneh M.C. Cham (The Gambia); Paul Kamara (Sierra Leone); Salifou B©avogui (Guinea); Sarnyenneh M. Dickson (Liberia); and Th©r¨se Donu (Togo).