Guests on a News Review programme on Radio New Song FM 91.3 have attributed the recent increase in killings across parts of Sierra Leone to the abolition of the death penalty from the country’s legal system.
The discussion took place during the Sunday, 23 March 2026 edition of the programme, moderated by station manager Problyn John Alpha and presented by News Editor Victor Sahr Amara.
Panelists included Julius Goba, Michael Komba Fonjah, Rev. Sahr James, Ansu Morison, and Sahr Famanda.
The panel discussed the topic: “The issue of rampant killings and insecurity in some parts of the country.” During the discussion, guests acknowledged that unlawful killings are not a new phenomenon but argued that recent incidents appear to have increased significantly following the removal of the death penalty from Sierra Leone’s law books.
They referenced the era of former President Siaka Stevens, noting that when capital punishment was still enforced, incidents of unlawful killings were comparatively rare. They cited the Krio expression, “Kill dog before dog make dog know say die dae,” to illustrate the deterrent effect they believe the death penalty once had.
According to the panelists, the influence of foreign legal and human rights policies which contributed to the abolition of capital punishment in Sierra Leone, as seen in many developed countries may have inadvertently contributed to the current rise in violent crimes in some areas.
The guests argued that this trend has heightened insecurity, particularly in affected districts across the country.
However, they collectively called on state institutions, especially the judiciary, to revisit the issue of the abolition of the death penalty if the current spate of unlawful killings persists.