SLAJ DEMANDS PROBE INTO ALLEGED THREAT AGAINST EDITOR THOMAS DIXON

The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) has condemned an alleged threat against veteran journalist Thomas Josephus Dixon. It is calling on the Sierra Leone Police to investigate the incident urgently and impartially.
Dixon is Chairman of the Guild of Newspaper Editors and Managing Editor of the New Age Newspaper. He alleges that Moses Sellu Mambu, National Publicity Secretary of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), threatened him after a television programme at Africa Young Voices (AYV) in Freetown on Sunday, 27 September 2026. In a formal complaint to SLAJ, Dixon said Mambu approached him after the programme and said: “We will hit you hard! This is the same reason for which your friend Samura was killed the last time.” He said the programme presenter, Victor Jones, and videographer Abu Bakarr Kamara were present. SLAJ said Jones has since given the Association a formal eyewitness account that supports the allegation. When SLAJ Secretary General Edward Fara Marrah contacted Mambu, he denied making a threat. He said that after the live programme he had only cautioned Dixon to “be careful.”SLAJ described the alleged statement as “extremely grave and disturbing” because it appeared to refer to the death of journalist Ibrahim Samura. Samura died after he was physically assaulted while covering the 2018 elections. The criminal case that followed ended in acquittals.
SLAJ President Alhaji Manika Kamara said the matter affects more than one person.”A threat against a journalist should not be seen as a personal matter only; it is a direct threat to the free press and, by extension, the public’s right to know,” he said. “Journalists must never be forced to choose between carrying out their professional duty and protecting their lives.”
He said the reported reference to another journalist’s death made the allegation especially alarming.”Whether such words were intended as a threat or otherwise must be established through a proper investigation. What cannot be acceptable is for any journalist to be left living in fear because of his or her professional work,” Kamara added.
SLAJ is asking the police and other relevant authorities to investigate the complaint, establish the facts and take appropriate action. It also wants the authorities to assess Dixon’s security concerns and, where necessary, take steps to protect him and his family while the investigation continues.
The Association is also calling on the SLPP leadership to publicly reaffirm its commitment to the safety of journalists. It wants the party to make clear that threats and intimidation against journalists are unacceptable, regardless of political affiliation. SLAJ said it will monitor the case closely and support Dixon within its mandate. It urged journalists to keep working with courage, accuracy and fairness, and asked politicians to settle disagreements with the media through lawful and democratic means.”Criticism of journalism may be legitimate,” the Association said. “Intimidation and threats against journalists are not.”