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A two-day-old baby reportedly died after being exposed to police tear gas at the Lifeline Nehemiah compound in Kuntorloh, Freetown, on Saturday, 4 October 2025. The infant’s father, Alpha Bangura, confirmed the heartbreaking incident.
According to Mr. Bangura, police officers under the command of the Barracks LUC had been firing tear gas in the area for two consecutive days. “When the police started shooting around the Lifeline compound, I thought my family would be safe because of the distance from my house,” he said. “But the officers moved closer, firing into homes, and that’s how my two-day-old baby suffocated to death.”
The tragedy has sparked widespread outrage and renewed criticism of what many described as excessive use of force by the police. Residents and human rights advocates are calling for accountability and justice, urging authorities to investigate and prevent similar incidents in the future.
The violence reportedly stems from an ongoing land dispute involving the Lifeline Nehemiah Project. The organisation claims there are attempts to seize its property at the Approved School site, which provides education and extracurricular activities for over 900 children from more than 30 schools.
The executive Director, Prince Tommy Williams told journalists that despite a valid court injunction and confirmation from the Ministry of Lands affirming Lifeline’s ownership, individuals allegedly led by Mohamed Tunde Macarthy, popularly known as Tumac, have continued efforts to take over the land, allegedly with police backing.
Williams added that he has been appealing to authorities for the past four months to intervene and prevent unnecessary tension, but his calls have so far gone unanswered. “We continue to call for calm and urge the appropriate authorities to swiftly act to protect lives,” he said.
A police officer who declined to reveal his name denied the allegations, stating only that the force was acting under orders to protect the land.
