Mariama Bengie has reportedly being detained at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in Freetown on Monday, January 19, 2026, following remarks made in audio recordings that allegedly linked the paternity of a child to President Julius Maada Bio.

The report was published by Sarah Kallay Blog, which stated that Bengie was at the CID in connection with allegations concerning comments about the paternity of a child belonging to a woman identified as Rugis. In the audio, Bengie is alleged to have claimed that the child’s father is a “highest ranking politician,” a statement the report says was interpreted as referring to President Bio.

According to Sarah Kallay Blog, it remains unclear whether Bengie was formally arrested or invited by the police for questioning. However, the blog confirmed that her presence at the CID was directly related to the circulation of the recent audio recordings.

“At the time of publishing this post, she was still detained,” Sarah Kallay Blog reported, adding that no official statement had yet been issued by the police to clarify her legal status or the specific allegations under investigation.

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There has been no public confirmation from the Sierra Leone Police or State House regarding the matter. President Bio has not commented on the allegation, and no evidence has been presented publicly to support the claims made in the audio.

As of the time of this report, the situation remains developing, with further details expected once authorities provide an official response.