By Aminata Abu Bakarr Kamara
The mysterious death of a military officer near the commodity Trading company (CTC) mining site at Gbere junction, Port Loko District, has reignited public concern over security lapses in Sierra Leone’s resource-rich but volatile mining regions.
The deceased, identified as Sergeant Alhaji Bayoh, was reportedly found dead in a pit on October 27, 2025, by Umaru Bilkish Kamara, community Liaison officer for CTC mining company, and corporal Conteh (M18181706), also stationed at the site.
According to the Northwest regional police division, preliminary investigations suggest that Sergeant Bayoh may have been attacked by unidentified assailants before his body was dumped in the pit, the motive behind the killing remains unclear.
The discovery has sent shockwaves through Gbere Junction and neighboring communities, where residents expressed growing fear over what they describe as deteriorating security conditions in the area.
If a soldier can be killed while on duty, what about us ordinary citizens? lamented one resident who requested anonymity, we need stronger protection and a greater law enforcement presence.
In response, the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) and the republic of Sierra Leone armed forces (RSLAF) have launched a joint operation to investigate the incident and restore calm, several suspects have reportedly been arrested as part of the ongoing probe.
Speaking on the matter, Ambassador Bon Wurie, the resident minister for the Northwest Region, strongly condemned the killing, describing it as an attack on national security, this is not only a crime against one man but an assault on the peace and discipline our uniformed forces represent, he said, government will not rest until the perpetrators are brought to justice.
Security analysts say the killing highlights the urgent need for stronger coordination between private mining companies, state security forces, and local communities, mining concessions across Sierra Leone have increasingly become flashpoints for disputes over land ownership, employment opportunities, and community rights.
A retired officer familiar with mining site security operations told this reporter that such incidents expose gaps in communication and inadequate protective arrangements for personnel stationed at remote mining areas, many of these sites are isolated and poorly monitored, security officers often work in vulnerable conditions without sufficient backup, he noted.
Meanwhile, Gbere Junction and surrounding communities remain under heightened patrol, with increased checkpoints and surveillance by joint security forces to reassure residents and prevent further unrest.
Authorities have pledged to provide timely updates as investigations progress and have urged the public to remain calm and cooperate with security personnel.
As the investigation unfolds, the death of Sergeant Alhaji Bayoh stands as a somber reminder of the dangers faced by those protecting Sierra Leone’s extractive sector and the pressing need to strengthen security coordination across the nation’s mining regions.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Friday, 31st October 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
