The National Council of Paramount Chiefs of Sierra Leone (NCPC-SL) has called on the government to establish 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 23 October 2026, the council condemned the incident, which it said occurred on the night of 16 October and into the early hours of 17 October, following the late chief’s burial in Pendembu Town, Upper Bambara Chiefdom.
According to the council, the chief’s tomb was destroyed, his remains exhumed and paraded through the town, and his coffin set ablaze. It also reported that five houses belonging to the late chief, his wife and close family members were vandalised.
The NCPC-SL has urged the government to constitute an investigative committee, including its representatives, to examine the incident and submit its findings to the authorities.
It also called on the Sierra Leone Police to strengthen investigations and make arrests impartially, while urging the judiciary to expedite the trial of anyone found culpable.
The council further appealed to the government to provide security and support to the bereaved family to ensure the late chief’s final traditional rites can be completed without further disruption.
It urged residents of Pendembu, Upper Bambara Chiefdom and Kailahun District to remain calm and provide the police with credible information that could lead to the arrest of suspects.
The council also called on social media users to stop circulating graphic images and videos of the incident, stressing the need to respect the dignity of the deceased and the privacy of his family.
