The Criminal Investigation Department of the Rogbaneh Police Station in the Northern City of Makeni under the supervision of the Crime Officer, D/ASP. John G.K Williams has in a Police public notice informed the public it is currently investigating an alleged case of murder/administering poison involving two children.

According to the notice from the Media team of the Sierra Leone Police in the Northeast region, on Thursday 08 August 2024, at 1756 hours, one Pa Massim, a ceremonial Chief from Makaika village in the Lebisigahun Chiefdom in Bombali District and others arrested and brought in one Mabinty Sesay of Mamakie Village and reported that on Wednesday 07 August 2024 at 1530 hours at Mamakie Village, the latter allegedly administered poison substance (furanda) to two kids.

The two kids, according to the notice are Sorie Sesay, aged two and Alimamy Sesay, age three and were all living in the same address.

The former, the police say eventually died, while the latter is responding to treatment.

“Upon receipt of the report, the following actions were taken,” the public notice from the Sierra Leone Police reads.

On Wednesday 7th August 2024, personnel attached to BatKanu Police Station swiftly responded to the Crime Scene, where they obtained photographs and facilitated the referral of Alimamy Sesay to the Medical Center of BatKanu for first aid treatment. A Police medical request form in duplicate, the report says was issued to the victim.

On Friday 9th August 2024, a team of investigators from Makeni (Rogbaneh) Police station, led by Team Leader D/Sgt. 1506 Alimamy Kamara, including the Scene of Crime Officer D/Sgt. 9671 Abu Bakarr Kargbo were dispatched to BatKanu to augment the investigation.

The crime scene, the public notice says was revisited by the team, who later retrieved the corpse of the deceased and conveyed it to the Makeni Government Hospital in Makeni City for an autopsy.

The Victim Alimamy Sesay was also later referred to the Makeni Government Hospital for examination and treatment.

Mabinty Sesay, the suspect was reportedly brought into the Rogbaneh Police station to assist in the investigation.

According to preliminary investigation, Mabinty Sesay, the suspect in respect of the matter is the grandmother of both victims. On that fateful day, she made a blend of sorghum, cornmeal, and rice and mixed it with the furanda (local poison). The grandmother took the poison to her farm for the purpose of preventing birds from eating her plant rice.

The old woman confessed to later returning home with the remaining mixture, but her grandchildren without the idea that the food contained poison went into her room and ate. Before they could realize it was not a normal food, the substance affected them.

Sorie Sesay, the other victim couldn’t resist the poison and he was later announced dead.

Mabinty Sesay, the grandmother and suspect said she bought the said local poison from a passerby.

The police said the matter is still under investigation and the grandmother is in police custody. The public will be updated, according to the Sierra Leone Police.