Internal Affairs Minister Speaks Against Lawlessness

By Fatmata Mohamed Bangura
The Minister of Internal Affairs, Retired Assistant Inspector General of Police Morie Lengor Esq., on Tuesday, 22nd July 2025, addressed the growing issue of lawlessness in the country during the Government Weekly Press Briefing held at the Miatta Conference Centre, Youyi Building, Freetown.
Minister Lengor stated that when President Julius Maada Bio assumed office, he made it clear that addressing lawlessness is a priority. “When the President appointed me, he emphasized that discipline must be restored in the country and that enforcement is crucial,” the Minister said.
He also noted that lawlessness has become a norm over the years and that a change in mindset is necessary.
The Minister further disclosed that President Julius Maada Bio insisted on sustainable solutions, not quick fixes. “Whatever we do must be sustainable,” Minister Lengor emphasized. “That is why I established a task force headed by the Assistant Inspector General of Police,” he said.
The task force, he noted, is a collaborative effort involving the Freetown City Council, the Sierra Leone Roads Authority, and the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority, mainly focusing on traffic management and that other supporting measures have also been introduced.
“The issue is enormous, and our approach must be gradual,” the Minister said. He explained that the first target was the Central Business District, which had become notorious for commercial motorcycle riders (commonly known as Okada) hitting pedestrians, snatching phones, and damaging vehicles. “We needed to sanitize and stabilize the Central Business District,” he said. “I believe most of you will agree that there is now greater order in that area.”
He emphasized that the success so far is due to coordination, cooperation, and communication among the relevant authorities and the public. “We pre-warn people before operations and engage them constructively,” he said.
Minister Lengor highlighted that operations were carried out in about 23 streets, but many of the challenges stemmed from conflicting public perceptions about the role of the Freetown City Council. “People claim the Council gives them licenses to trade on the streets, but the Council clarified that these licenses are not permits to block pedestrian pathways,” he said. “Children cannot even walk safely to school without being forced into roads meant for vehicles, which often results in accidents,” he stated.
He shared a troubling incident where an expatriate was hit by a commercial motorcycle rider at Pa Demba Road, sustaining an injury. “This is part of the lawlessness we are talking about,” he said. “Lawlessness is when laws exist, but people do not follow them, and for too long, we have failed to enforce them,” he stated.
He explained that Sierra Leoneans abroad respect laws but change their behaviour upon returning home. “People build with materials like sand and granite and dump them on roads, blocking access,” he said.
He added that others obstruct water pipelines, forcing residents to lay pipes through gutters, which eventually get damaged.
He also criticized street traders who clog the gutters with waste, leading to flooding during the rainy season and that in residential areas, people play loud music all night, disturbing students, the sick, and workers trying to rest. “Many places also turn into hotspots for violence due to bars operating where they should not be,” he said.
The Minister expressed concern over the chaotic state of public transportation, noting that drivers stop anywhere, disrupting traffic flow. Commercial tricycle operators (Kekeh) are especially reckless, and accidents involving them often result in deaths or serious injuries, he said.
He called on the public to work together with the authorities to instill discipline. “Some people litter the streets without a second thought, then blame the Freetown City Council,” he said. “Even elderly women cleaning the streets in the morning often work without protective gear. The volume of waste is overwhelming and costly to manage.”
The Minister praised the head of the task force, the Assistant Inspector General of Police, for his leadership. “He is doing an excellent job. Even the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation has reached out for assistance,” he said.