FREETOWN, 23 October 2026 – The National Council of Paramount Chiefs of Sierra Leone (NCPC-SL) has called on the Government to set up an investigative committee into the exhumation and desecration of the remains of the late Paramount Chief Cyril Foray Gondor II in Pendembu, Kailahun District.
In a press release dated 23rd October 2026, the Council said it was appalled by the incident which occurred on the night of 16th October into the early hours of 17th October 2026, shortly after the late chief was laid to rest in Pendembu Town, Upper Bambara Chiefdom.
According to the Council, the chief’s tomb was destroyed, his remains were exhumed and paraded through the town, and his coffin was set ablaze. The Council also reported that five houses belonging to the late chief, his wife and close family members were vandalised.
Paramount Chief Cyril Foray Gondor II was the Paramount Chief of Upper Bambara Chiefdom, one of the 14 chiefdoms in Kailahun District in the Eastern Province. Paramount Chiefs are custodians of tradition and local governance, and their burial rites are considered sacred in Sierra Leonean custom.
Council’s Demands:
In its statement, the NCPC-SL, which serves as the umbrella body for all Paramount Chiefs in the country, made five key calls:
1. That Government constitutes an investigative committee, including representatives of the Council, to examine the incident and submit findings.
2. That the Sierra Leone Police strengthens its investigations and makes arrests impartially.
3. That the judiciary expedites trial of anyone found culpable to serve as deterrent.
4. That Government provides security and support to the bereaved family to ensure the late chief’s final traditional rites can be completed peacefully.
5. That residents remain calm.
The Council also appealed to residents of Pendembu, Upper Bambara Chiefdom and the entire Kailahun District to remain calm and cooperate with the police by providing credible information that could lead to the arrest of suspects.
Furthermore, it called on social media users to desist from circulating graphic images and videos of the incident, stressing the need to respect the dignity of the deceased and the privacy of his grieving family.
The Sierra Leone Police is yet to provide an update on arrests in connection with the incident, which has sparked outrage across the country as an unprecedented desecration of traditional authority.
