CIC Pres. Koroma

In recent months, the peaceful citizens of our country have been subjected to a rising spate of armed robbery in both the Western Area and the Provincial Towns. This has created a feeling of insecurity that threatens to affect the normal conduct and day to day activities of our citizens. I consider this situation totally unacceptable.

It is my responsibility as President and Commander-in-Chief of this nation to safeguard the lives and property of all citizens wherever they may be.

Consequently, I have today convened an emergency session of the National Security Council to
take immediate steps to put an end to these attempts by criminal elements in our society bent
on creating a feeling of fear and insecurity among the citizenry.

I have therefore mandated the National Security Council to take the following measures with
immediate effect:

1. A joint military and Police operation shall be mounted under the MACP protocol which
 I have signed to take effect from 7pm to 7am everyday until further notice.
 Any person so arrested under this joint operation shall be prosecuted according to the law;

2. The arrest of all vehicles without valid number plates and documentation;

3. Verification  and control of all vehicles with garage plates;
4. Verification of identities of all those stopped at the various check-points to be mounted
 country-wide;

5. Thorough investigations of all vehicles with foreign number plates to ensure compliance
 with our traffic laws and the ECOWAS protocols;

6. Arrest of all foreign private-registered vehicles engaging in commercial transportation.

7. Finally, any person caught or suspected of causing damage to government property and
 infrastructure, particularly the NPA transformers and transmission lines or any installation
 bearing direct impact on the Bumbuna Hydroelectric Power Plant shall be arrested and
 severely dealt with.

Fellow Citizens,
Let me assure you that my Government and I will do everything possible to safeguard your lives
and property

I thank you and may God bless you.