Freetown, 8th April 2026 – The West Africa Network of Activists and Media Defense Lawyers (WANAMDEL) has strongly condemned the assault of Sierra Leonean lawyer and journalist, Paul Kamara Esq., by police officers at Adonkia Police Station in Freetown.
According to WANAMDEL, the incident occurred on April 4, 2026, when Kamara visited the station to follow up on investigations into the death of his colleague, Augustine Sensie Bangura. While consoling the bereaved family and engaging officers at the Criminal Investigations Department, Kamara reportedly attempted to de-escalate a confrontation between a police officer and a member of the public. Instead, he was physically assaulted, restrained, and pepper-sprayed by officers, despite identifying himself as a lawyer and journalist.
WANAMDEL expressed grave concern over what it described as intimidation and disregard for the rule of law. The network further criticized the treatment Kamara received when he attempted to file a complaint at the station’s Complaints Desk, where he was allegedly met with ridicule and indifference. It was only after the intervention of concerned individuals contacting the Local Unit Commander that Kamara was allowed to lodge his complaint.
In its statement, WANAMDEL called for an immediate, independent, and transparent investigation into the incident, sanctions against the officers involved, and concrete measures to prevent recurrence. “The Sierra Leone Police must uphold their duty to protect the rights and dignity of all persons,” the network stressed.
WANAMDEL, established by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), is a coalition of 14 prominent human rights lawyers across West Africa providing legal support to journalists, activists, and media organizations. Signatories to the statement include lawyers from Guinea-Bissau, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Benin, Ghana, Senegal, The Gambia, Liberia, Togo, and Sierra Leone.
The incident has sparked renewed debate about police accountability and professional standards in Sierra Leone, with civil society groups urging reforms to ensure that law enforcement agencies respect human rights and the rule of law.
