By Reporter J
Officers of the Operational Support Division (OSD) of the Sierra Leone Police on Sunday dispersed a gathering involving All People’s Congress (APC) presidential flagbearer aspirant, Mohamed Omodu “Jagaban” Kamara, and his supporters in Wellington, firing teargas at the venue.
The incident occurred at the former NATCO Factory within the Wellington Industrial Estate, where Jagaban and his supporters had assembled for a charity ceremony linked to his transport business. The event was also intended to mark the unveiling of the facility as the Jagaban Bus Depot, ahead of the anticipated arrival of a fleet of buses from China.
Eyewitnesses said police officers arrived at the venue in the morning and interrupted the ceremony, leading to a tense confrontation. Moments later, teargas was reportedly fired, triggering panic among attendees and forcing the crowd to disperse.
Supporters of the APC aspirant condemned the police action, describing it as an act of intimidation against opposition figures. They accused the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) administration of using state security forces to harass political opponents and suppress lawful activities.
“This is systemic intimidation aimed at frustrating opposition participation,” one supporter said.
The Wellington incident is not the first involving Jagaban and the OSD. Supporters recalled a similar episode at his Mile 38 factory, where police reportedly disrupted another related ceremony.
In a statement shared on a Facebook page supporting Jagaban, the incident was described as further evidence of growing intolerance toward opposition activities. The statement accused the government of being “authoritarian and hostile to enterprise,” warning that such actions could undermine democratic participation.
The Sierra Leone Police are yet to issue an official statement explaining the reason for the intervention.
The incident has renewed concerns among opposition parties and civil society groups over the conduct of security forces, with critics cautioning that repeated police disruptions of political or business-related events risk heightening political tension in the country.
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