Freetown, Sierra Leone – June 20, 2026 — In a landmark ruling hailed as “justice for Baby Mustapha,” Sierra Leone’s High Court has sentenced 55-year-old Abubakarr Jalloh to 75 years in prison for causing grievous bodily harm with intent to his five-year-old grandson, Mustapha Kanu, resulting in the amputation of both the child’s arms.
Jalloh pleaded guilty before Justice Simeon Allieu to the charge under the Offences Against the Person Act of 1861. A second charge of child torture under the Child Rights Act was withdrawn by prosecutors.
The horrific abuse took place on February 12, 2026, in Sussex Village along the Freetown Peninsula. According to court testimony, Jalloh had taken in his grandson Mustapha while the boy’s mother, Hassanatu Jalloh, and her husband, Alimamy Kanu, moved to manage family land at Hill Station (IMATT) at the grandfather’s request. The child was left in the care of Jalloh, his step-grandmother Kadijatu Kamara, and Jalloh’s 14-year-old son, Mohamed, and was never enrolled in school during his seven months there.
On the day of the incident, Jalloh sent the boys to a nearby telecentre to charge his phone. When Mustapha returned later than expected, Jalloh flew into a rage. He allegedly tied the five-year-old’s hands to a wooden stick in a crucifix-like position using strips from an inner tyre tube, then poured boiling water (described in some accounts as hot oil) mixed with pepper on the child’s hands. Jalloh reportedly locked the boy in the house, denied him food and water, and ignored his cries of pain for much of the day.
The boy’s older brother found him still bound and in agony but, fearing his father, did not intervene immediately. Only upon Kadijatu’s return in the evening was Mustapha freed. Jalloh allegedly downplayed the injuries, claiming the child was prone to running away, and failed to seek prompt medical care despite receiving money from his wife for hospital transport.
By the third day, the injuries had worsened severely. A neighbor eventually helped transport the child to a clinic, leading to referral to Emergency Hospital. Medical staff noted signs of abuse and alerted police, resulting in Jalloh’s arrest. Doctors at both Emergency and Connaught Hospitals advised that amputation of both arms was necessary to save the boy’s life. The family initially sought alternative traditional treatment in Bo, but the condition deteriorated, and Mustapha’s arms eventually detached naturally at the elbow joints due to severe infection and decay.
Prosecutor Yousif Isaac Sesay emphasized the vulnerability of the child, who was betrayed by the very person entrusted with his protection. He urged a severe sentence, noting the maximum penalty includes life imprisonment (with a minimum of 30 years under relevant law) and advocated for 70 years to deter such crimes. Justice Allieu delivered the 75-year term following the guilty plea.
The case has sparked widespread outrage across Sierra Leone, with many drawing painful parallels to the amputations inflicted during the country’s civil war, even as the nation continues to grapple with child protection challenges. Mustapha, now permanently disabled, faces a difficult future in one of the world’s poorest countries, where access to rehabilitation, prosthetics, and support services remains limited. His mother was reportedly seen weeping in court as the young boy, unaware of the full gravity, played quietly during proceedings.
Child rights advocates are calling for stronger enforcement of child protection laws and better support systems for victims of domestic abuse. This sentencing is seen as a strong judicial message that crimes against children will not be tolerated.
