By: Problyn J. Alpha
Emmanuel Ngaujah, a resident of the Resettlement Community in Koidu City, Kono District, has died under circumstances that his family attributes to alleged police brutality at the former Koidu Limited Mining Company concession.
According to his father, Gbama Ngaujah, Emmanuel left home on Thursday, July 24, 2025, for agricultural work in his village. On Sunday, July 27, when Gbama tried to call his son, his wife replied that Emmanuel was not at home. The next morning, after returning from his garden, Gbama was informed by residents in Koidu City of Emmanuel’s death.
Upon arriving at the Koidu Government Hospital mortuary, Gbama saw his son’s lifeless body the face and head smeared with blood, leading him to believe that foul play was involved. He immediately reported to the Tankoro Police Station the following day, where he later gave his statement. Gbama rejected claims that Emmanuel had died from illness, stating that such a cause was implausible given the visible injuries.
Gbama requested a full post-mortem and the return of Emmanuel’s body for burial. While a doctor initially conducted only a superficial examination, noting that Emmanuel was tied, bruised, and bleeding from multiple points, the following day the Inspector General of Sierra Leone Police, William Fayia Sellu, ordered a full post-mortem to be conducted in Freetown. The Freetown examination revealed multiple wounds and fractures including spinal cord, ribs, and backbone damage suggestive of severe trauma.
Responding to the allegation, Chief Superintendent Augustine Kamara, the Local Unit Commander for the Tankoro Police Division, condemned the incident as “very unfortunate.” He confirmed that Emmanuel alongside three others was arrested on July 20, 2025, on suspicion of stealing property from the mining concession. While the others were detained at the station, Emmanuel reportedly complained of feeling unwell and was taken to the hospital, where he died during treatment. The other suspects were later charged in Sefadu Magistrate Court.
Kamara stated the police would conduct a thorough investigation to establish whether Emmanuel’s death was the result of torture or illness. He noted that one of the detained officers admitted to handing Emmanuel over to a colleague, but both denied any involvement in physical abuse. As a gesture of sympathy not admission of guilt the police presented a condolence package to the family including Le 1,500 and a bag of rice
This tragic incident has heightened concern around policing practices in Kono District. Historically, Koidu has experienced tensions and allegations of excessive use of force such as during the protests in 2007 and 2012, when police actions led to fatalities during demonstrations at diamond mining sites.