By:Mamajah Jalloh
The National Council of Paramount Chiefs of Sierra Leone (NCPC-SL) has strongly condemned the unlawful exhumation and desecration of the remains of the late Hon. Paramount Chief Cyril Foray Gondor II, alongside incidents of violence, destruction of property and looting in Pendembu Town, Upper Bambara Chiefdom, Kailahun District.
In a press release issued on Friday, 23 October 2026, from the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs at Youyi Building in Freetown, the Council expressed its deepest condolences to the bereaved family and extended solidarity to all those affected by what it described as a “sacrilegious and harrowing event.”
“May our ancestors brighten the traditional passage of our dear colleague,” the statement read.
The late PC Gondor, who served as Paramount Chief of Upper Bambara Chiefdom and Paramount Chief Member of Parliament for Kailahun District, answered his ancestral call on 5 September 2026. His remains were taken to Pendembu on Friday, 16 October, for the final traditional rites of passage.
According to the Council, the funeral cortege arrived safely, and the late Paramount Chief’s remains were handed over to chiefdom stakeholders in accordance with tradition before he was respectfully laid to rest.
However, shortly after the burial, his tomb was reportedly destroyed, and his remains were unlawfully exhumed and paraded through the town. His coffin was subsequently set ablaze, while five houses belonging to the late Paramount Chief, his wife and close family members were reportedly vandalized.
The NCPC-SL has called for justice, the dignified re-interment of the late Paramount Chief’s remains and the restoration of the affected properties. The Council has also urged the relevant authorities to investigate the incident and bring those responsible to justice.
The Council comprises Paramount Chiefs from all 190 chiefdoms in Sierra Leone. It seeks to promote peace and order, uphold customs and traditions, and support development within chiefdoms.
Its mandate is aligned with Sections 72(1) and (2), and 170(2) and (3) of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone, as well as Section 29(1) (a) to (e) of the Chieftaincy Act, 2009, which outlines the duties of Paramount Chiefs.
The Council maintains that justice must be served and the dignity of the late Paramount Chief restored following the incident that has deeply affected his family and the wider traditional leadership.