The press release states:

The Guild of Editors-Sierra Leone strongly condemns the beating of John Koroma, Editor of Awareness Times newspaper, at Mile 14 Town, Tonko Limba chiefdom, northern Sierra Leone, where he was accredited by the National Electoral Commission to observe a bye-election for a Kambia District Local Council seat inside Ward 196 on Saturday 29 September 2018.

The release adds that: The beating, as reported by John Koroma himself, occurred in the presence of some senior officers of the Sierra Leone Police, and one Mr. Manso Dumbuya, the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) Chairman for Western Area. John said he was beaten by a group of over twenty (20) thugs of the ruling SLPP Government, with no one intervening to help him.”

“The Guild of Editors condemns this act in its totality,” said Donald Theo-Harding, Chairman, Guild of Editors – Sierra Leone.

He added: “It’s unfortunate that this comes at a time when President Maada Bio has pledged his commitment to a free press and national cohesion. We call for a speedy investigation into the matter and those responsible to be brought to book.”

The release states that: “This incident has also come at a time that the Guild is still waiting for the results of an investigation into the death of another editor (Ibrahim Samura of New Age Newspaper) who lost his life after he was beaten by All People’s Congress (APC) party operatives during the last elections.”

The release ended by stating that the Guild of Editors – Sierra Leone hopes this incident would be thoroughly investigated by the authorities and perpetrators brought to book.