Masiaka, Sierra Leone – May 6, 2026 — Security authorities have sealed off part of the Waterloo–Masiaka Highway following the discovery of a suspected explosive device believed to date back to the country’s civil war.
The object was uncovered on Monday, 4 May, in Sumbuya Village, Koya Chiefdom, prompting an immediate response from security personnel. Officers from the Masiaka Division of the Sierra Leone Police, led by Local Unit Commander CSP John B. Koroma, coordinated a rapid intervention alongside troops from the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) and the Waterloo Division.
Officials confirmed that the area has since been secured and cordoned off as a precautionary measure to protect residents and road users. Access to the immediate vicinity remains restricted while authorities await the arrival of a specialized bomb disposal unit to assess and neutralize the device.
Investigations are ongoing to determine the nature and origin of the object, which is suspected to be a remnant from Sierra Leone’s 11-year civil conflict.
Security officials have urged members of the public to remain calm but vigilant, and to avoid the affected area until clearance operations are completed.
