By Moses Sesay
In its end-of-year update to journalists, the Sierra Leone Police has said as of 30th December, 2025, there still exists a list of Sierra Leoneans wanted for their alleged involvement in the August 10, 2022, protest that was later transformed into a bloody riot.
Speaking at a press briefing in Freetown, the Police said recently, they arrested 19 of the suspects who are now helping police investigation, adding that the list that they released in August 2022 still stands and that all those declared wanted therein still remain wanted, as the search for them continues.
Speaking to newsmen, Police Inspector Samuel O Jamescommonly called SOJ of the Calaba Town Police Division, said the list declares Mohammed Barrak Koroma, formerly of 137 Alpha Lane, Congo Water, east of Freetown, IsataBangura of Bai Bureh Road in Freetown, Charlie Babadi of Calaba Town, Moses Samura, formerly of Blackhall Road in Freetown; and Samuel Kamara, formerly of Congo Water in Freetown, wanted for allegedly planning and participating in the protest.
He said the police have been informed that some of the wanted suspects are still on the run in and out of the country but that the police will stop at nothing to arrest and bring them to book shortly. Earlier, SOJ went on, the police arrested over 200 suspects in police custody and are looking for others who have been declared wanted persons.
According to the police, most of the wanted suspects werestrongly involved in the planning and financing of the protest, aimed at getting citizens to call on the ruling government to address basic human rights issues such as water and electricity supply, food and other human rights amenities.
They believed that, being supporters of the opposition, the suspects must have also been involved in the protest. Hence, the reason they are declared wanted. A new toll-free line was released for citizens to help them with information about their whereabouts. Alist of the wanted persons is still being posted on various police stations, as well as the toll-free line for information leading to their arrest.
