Is Journalism a Crime? Reflections on the Colla Store Incident

By Ahmed Papa Kanu.
What happened on the 6th of September 2025 at Colla Store, along Malamah Thomas Street in Freetown, was unfortunate, shameful, and deeply concerning for the peace and security of our beloved country. Incidents of this nature remind us that if only our state security agencies understood their true responsibilities and acted with professionalism, Sierra Leone would stand among the most peaceful nations on earth.

Too often, when security forces embark on operations, innocent citizens become the victims. People are arrested wrongly, brutalized without cause, and forcefully bundled into vehicles, with little or no regard for their fundamental human rights. These actions are not only unjust but also undermine public trust in our security institutions.
Even more troubling is the way some members of the security sector perceive journalists. Instead of recognizing them as partners in democracy and accountability, journalists are often treated as targets. They are harassed, intimidated, and sometimes assaulted, even when carrying out their constitutional duty to inform the public. This attitude is a grave mistake. Journalists are not enemies of the state; they are vital to the functioning of a free and democratic society. Without them, the truth remains hidden, and the public remains in the dark.
The events at Colla Store could have been avoided entirely if professionalism had prevailed. Unfortunately, the military officers on the ground acted outside their mandate, creating confusion and escalating the situation unnecessarily. The police officers who later arrived were misinformed, and instead of seeking clarity, they relied on false reports, which led to wrongful arrests and brutalization of civilians and journalists alike. Those arrested were innocent, yet they suffered at the hands of the very institutions meant to protect them.

At the Eastern Police Station, the manner in which some junior officers conducted themselves toward their senior commanders is left much to be desired. No officer should create the impression that anyone is above the law. In a democratic state such as Sierra Leone, every individual—whether a civilian, a journalist, a police officer, or a military officer—must be subject to the law. No one is above accountability.

This incident highlights a deeper issue: the urgent need for reform in how our state security institutions carry out their operations. They must be guided by the rule of law, respect for human rights, and a recognition of the important role that journalists and citizens play in safeguarding democracy. A professional and disciplined security sector would not view journalists as enemies but as partners in ensuring peace, transparency, and accountability.
Sierra Leone is a democratic country governed by laws, not by brute force. It is therefore unacceptable for those entrusted with the responsibility of protecting the people to turn their power against the innocent. Only by addressing these issues honestly and directly can we prevent such incidents from repeating themselves.
The Colla Store incident should serve as a lesson to all—security agencies, government officials, and citizens alike. If the security forces had worked with journalists that day, they would have gained firsthand information about the situation and acted responsibly. Instead, misinformation and unprofessional conduct led to a breakdown of order, the brutalization of innocents, and the silencing of truth.

We must ask ourselves again: Is journalism a crime? If the answer is no, then journalists must never be treated as criminals. They deserve protection, not persecution. Only when this principle is respected will Sierra Leone truly live up to its promise of being a nation of peace, law, and order.