No justice for slain journalist, one year on

14 Jun 2012

A year after the death of Ibrahim Foday, reporter of the daily newspaper The Exclusive, no arrest, prosecution or trial has been meted out to the perpetrator(s) of this heinous crime.

In a statement issued by the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) on 11 June 2012, members of the association heightened their call on the Sierra Leonean authorities and the police service to ensure that justice is meted out to the perpetrator(s) of the crime.

"We are saddened that one year since the killing of Foday, the Sierra Leone Police Service are yet to bring his killer(s) to justice despite repeated assurances from senior members of the force", says Umaru Fofana, president of SLAJ.

Foday was allegedly stabbed by Tunde Williams on 12 June 2011, a driver of the head of Kossoh town near the capital Freetown, during a land dispute. Prior to his death, Foday had published series of critical articles on the dispute.

According to the Media Foundation for West Africa's (MFWA) correspondent, despite this knowledge, the police have failed to apprehend Williams.

Williams' act is alleged to have been aided by a serving member of the Sierra Leone Police who was briefly arrested and released by the police without charge or explanation.

"Such is the horrible circumstance under which journalists work here that when they are attacked, beaten by policemen or even killed no serious action is taken to bring the attackers or assailants to justice," added SLAJ president Umaru Fofana.

Meanwhile police have recently declared Tunde Williams wanted and put an amount of 50 million Leones (about US$11 000) - bounty on his head.

According to SLAJ there will be a candle light memorial this week to mark the death of the journalist.

Source: allAfrica.