Journalist Thomas Dixon, currently in hiding, has spoken out about a serious threat he received from Sierra Leone’s Inspector General of Police, William Fayia Sellu.
Dixon claims the IG accused him of “crossing the redline” after his criticism of police detention practices, prompting fears for his safety and raising concerns about press freedom in the country.
Dixon in a public notice states;
I want to use this opportunity to inform everyone that I am safe where I am staying at the momentI thank all those who tried to reach out to me and for your prayers and words of consolation and solidarity.
I am still in hiding for the serious threat of the Inspector General of Police William Faya Sellu in a text message: “Thomas,you have crossed the redline.”His threat came after I critiqued what I believed as the unnecessary use of “orders from above” to keep people in detention.
His threat was further compounded by a call from the President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), Ahmed Sahid Nasrala advising that I should leave my home because the IG told him that he would get me arrested. Prior to this information I had not been informed of any report or investigation against me by the IGP
However, people in my community confirmed that they saw an unidentified black vehicle with some men in the vehicle around the community but could not tell their purpose.
This is the way people in positions of trust have been abusing power in our country for years which have most time cost the lives and destinies of powerless citizens all in the name of “orders from above.”The threat of the IG that I have crossed the redline which figuratively can be interpreted as the point of no return is still having a psychological effect on me and my family.
Whereas I am safe where I am, I want to state that I still feel unsecured to practice my craft as a journalist in an environment full of threats against media practitioners to the point that the IG could text, “Thomas, you have crossed the redline.
”Few months back, after I got harassed and threatened by boys close to the First Lady of the country because I gave my view on statement she made, my bag containing my computer, passport and money got missing.
I reported the matter to the police but uptill now there has been no head way.Since then, I have been very careful about moving around because I noticed that I have been frequently monitored by some people in authority.
It is the responsibility of Inspector General of Police to ensure that every citizen is safe but if he turns out to be making existential threats against those he should protect then
it appears we are not safe and secured.
Thank You All !!!Thomas DixonJournalist
