By: Audrey Raymonda John
On October 31, 2025, President Julius Maada Bio officially conferred paramount chieftaincy titles on 17 new chiefs, including a retired police officer, at a grand ceremony in Kambia Town, Kambia District, Northern Sierra Leone.
Among the newly recognized chiefs was PC Brima Sanda Jim Abu Saidu Kinthor V, who was officially acknowledged by President Bio as the legitimate and elected paramount chief for Sanda Magbolontor Chiefdom in Karene District.
The ceremony was a vibrant celebration of Sierra Leone’s rich cultural heritage, with thousands of jubilant residents and ndegenes from various communities within and outside Sanda Magbolontor Chiefdom. Traditional dances, songs, and customs marked the event, which was filled with joy and unity.
In his remarks, President Bio praised PC Brima Sanda Jim Abu Saidu Kinthor V for his decades of dedicated public service and urged him to uphold the values of discipline, service, and leadership in his new role. The President also emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and unity within the chiefdom and beyond.
PC Kinthor, in turn, expressed his gratitude to President Bio for the recognition and pledged to serve his people with dedication, fairness, and respect. He also acknowledged that his election as paramount chief was a testament to his commitment to peacefully serve the people of Sanda Magbolontor.
PC Kinthor’s father, the late Pa Saidu Kinthor, was a respected figure who had struggled to lead the chiefdom but did not live to see his vision realized. His son, PC Jim Abu, a retired police officer, has now fulfilled that vision through his leadership, bringing stability and peace to the chiefdom.
Following in his father’s footsteps, PC Kinthor V is determined to restore the legacy of his late father through his own service and dedication. His leadership has been embraced by the community, which is now experiencing a renewed sense of peace and unity.
Mr. Abu Kargbo, an influential resident of Sanda Magbolontor Chiefdom, expressed his gratitude to President Bio for recognizing PC Brima Sanda Jim Abu Saidu Kinthor V as the paramount chief. He shared that the chiefdom had suffered for years without a paramount chief and that the community was now thrilled to have a dedicated leader like PC Kinthor.
“We have been suffering for years without a paramount chief, and today we are happy to have a well-dedicated leader like PC Brima Sanda Jim Abu Saidu Kinthor V,” he said. “The chiefdom has regained its lost glory of peace, love, and respect.”
Mr. Kargbo also extended his gratitude to President Bio for formally recognizing the new paramount chief. He described the election of PC Kinthor V as a significant development for both the chiefdom and the country at large. He encouraged all residents, especially the youth, to promote peace, development, and good character while remaining law-abiding citizens. He further emphasized the importance of avoiding political division and regional bias in the community.
