An alarming wave of armed robberies across Bo City has sparked outrage and deepening mistrust in the Sierra Leone Police, as residents accuse law enforcement of failing to protect lives and property.
Over the past few weeks, communities including Torwama, Kandeh Town, Joe Town, Lewabu, Mendewa, and Shelmigo have reported a spike in night-time break-ins. Victims describe harrowing experiences of masked assailants wielding cutlasses, iron bars, and other weapons storming homes, inflicting injuries, and carting away cash, electronics, and other valuables.
Many residents say police response has been either slow or entirely absent.
“Our calls for help go unanswered,” said a victim from Joe Town. “The robbers know no one is coming. They take their time and leave calmly.”
The apparent inaction by police has fueled widespread frustration. Some residents say they have resorted to staying awake all night and taking shifts to guard their homes. Community members say the fear of attack is now part of daily life, and many blame the police for what they call a “growing state of lawlessness.”
Police denial of the surge has added to public anger. Regional Police Media One, PC Alhaji Osman Mansaray, told reporters he was unaware of any increase in armed robberies. That statement has drawn sharp backlash from residents, who say it shows the police are disconnected from the reality on the ground.
“That statement tells us that the police are either not aware or they are not listening to us,” said a Kandeh Town resident.
Calls are now mounting for Assistant Inspector General (AIG) Brima Kanneh and the Southern Region Command to act decisively. Civil society organizations and community leaders are demanding increased night patrols, quicker emergency response systems, and direct community engagement to address growing insecurity.
Local leaders warn that without immediate and credible intervention, the crisis could escalate beyond control.
“The breakdown in trust between the police and the community is dangerous,” said a community elder in Lewabu. “We need urgent collaboration before the situation worsens.”
As fear tightens its grip on Bo, the burden is now on law enforcement authorities to restore public confidence and halt the growing crime wave threatening Sierra Leone’s second-largest city.
