Event Summary
A well-known environmental activist, Trevor Young, was arrested on 8 January 2026 and later released by police in Freetown, after he shared a video online about a recent encounter with law enforcement, his statement shows. Young has said that police accused him of cyberbullying and cyberstalking the Sierra Leone Police over the video. The recording included his account of the stop, as well as comments from a woman in Aberdeen who shared her own experiences with police.
According to Young, the video was peacefully produced and contained verbal descriptions of their experiences without incitement. Despite this, the activist was charged under the cybercrime laws. In a statement, Young raised concerns about the scope and clarity of Sierra Leone’s cybercrime legislation, noting that ordinary citizens could be at risk of criminal charges for describing personal experiences, sharing stories, or holding public institutions accountable online. “Describing your experience can be considered a cybercrime. Sharing your story can be labeled cyberbullying. Holding a public institution accountable can be labeled cyberstalking,” Young said. He emphasized that the case raises serious questions about freedom of expression, press freedom, and the rights of citizens to speak openly about their interactions with state institutions.
He was released on bail pending the investigation, after hours in detention and being subjected to intimidation. This incident continues to demonstrate the misuse and abuse of Section 44 of the Cyber Security and Crimes Act 2021 by the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) at their convenience, neglecting the rights of citizens as enshrined in the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone.