Kabala, Koinadugu District — The Kabala Police Division has intercepted a group of 22 people, including 12 children, at Gbinndi Park in Kabala Town. The individuals were reportedly heading towards neighbouring Guinea.
The interception took place on Sunday, 30 August 2026. The group consists of 10 adults (one man and nine women) and 12 children (five boys and seven girls). All 22 are currently in police custody while investigations continue into the circumstances of their planned journey and the presence of the children.
Representatives from the Civil Society Unit, including Madam Mankie and Steaven Gebrila Mamaya, were present during the operation, according to information gathered by Radio Shalom’s Court and Human Rights Reporter Jennifer P. Mansaray.
Police have not released further details on the identities of those intercepted or the specific reasons for their intended movement into Guinea.
Kabala, the capital of Koinadugu District in Sierra Leone’s Northern Province, lies close to the international border with Guinea. The area has seen previous police actions against suspected irregular migration and trafficking. In April 2026, for example, the Kabala Police Division’s Family Support Unit intercepted 21 alleged irregular migrants, including a four-month-old baby, in a case authorities linked to possible human trafficking; those individuals were reportedly being prepared for onward movement toward Niger.
This latest interception comes amid ongoing regional concerns about irregular migration routes through Guinea. On 20 August 2026, Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Information and Civic Education issued a public notice clarifying that Sierra Leoneans with valid travel documents are not banned from travelling to or transiting through Guinea for legitimate purposes. However, the government stressed that restrictions apply to those seeking to use Guinea as a transit point for migration or overseas employment outside established legal procedures.
Guinean authorities have raised concerns about irregular migration, suspected human trafficking, and unverified job arrangements. Officials have urged citizens planning overseas work to verify arrangements through the Ministry of Employment, Labour and Social Security and to avoid bypassing proper channels, which expose travellers, particularly women and children to risks of exploitation and trafficking.
Sierra Leonean law prohibits human trafficking, and authorities routinely emphasise the dangers faced by vulnerable groups, especially minors, on irregular routes.
Investigations into the Gbinndi Park group remain ongoing.
