Claim: A Facebook blog called WeBlog232 claims that the Sierra Leone Police have beaten a journalist working for Africa Young Voices (AYV).
Verdict: True. The President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), Ahmed Sahid Nasralla, confirmed that the incident happened and said they are looking into it.
Full Text
A post made on Facebook by WeBlog232 claimed that officers of the Sierra Leone Police allegedly beat a journalist from Africa Young Voices (AYV) Media Empire. The post mentioned that the journalist involved was Mohamed Foday Fofanah, a camera operator working for AYV.
The incident reportedly occurred on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, during an assignment in Freetown. After the post was made, it quickly went viral, gaining the attention of many Sierra Leoneans, especially those in the media industry. While some people believed the post, others doubted it and wanted to be sure if it was true or just another rumour spread on social media.
The AYV Media Empire also commented briefly on the issue. They expressed disappointment and called for more protection for journalists, especially during field assignments.
Verification
To verify the truth of the story, DUBAWA contacted Ahmed Sahid Nasralla, the President of SLAJ (Sierra Leone Association of Journalists). He confirmed that the incident did happen and that the journalist involved was indeed a staff member of AYV.
Mr. Nasralla said, “Yes, we received reports that one of our colleagues was beaten by the police. We are gathering all the facts, and SLAJ will issue an official statement by midday on Thursday, 22nd May 2025.”
The press release from SLAJ reads:
Conclusion:
After verifying with SLAJ President Ahmed Sahid Nasralla, it is confirmed that the claim made by WeBlog232 is valid. A journalist from Africa Young Voices, Mohamed Foday Fofanah, was indeed beaten by the Sierra Leone Police on May 21, 2025.