A tragic incident unfolded in Komrabai Waterloo Village, Maforki District, on March 24, 2025, when three boys, aged 13 to 15, were involved in a bomb explosion while searching for mangoes in their farming area.

The boys stumbled upon what they mistakenly believed to be harmless scrap metal, only to discover later that it was a dangerous explosive.

As they made their way to the home of Ya Fatmata Kamara, who had expressed interest in purchasing the mangoes, disaster struck. While waiting for Ya Fatmata to retrieve the money, one of the boys, Abdulrahman Kamara, made the fateful decision to strike the object, thinking it was innocuous.

In a horrifying turn of events, the bomb detonated, resulting in severe and irreversible consequences. Abdulrahman lost his life instantly in the explosion, while his two companions, including Ya Fatmata, sustained critical injuries and were rushed to Port Loko Regional Hospital for urgent medical attention.

Local authorities responded swiftly to the explosion. The Port Loko division of the Sierra Leone Police, in collaboration with the Northwest Regional Operations Department, arrived at the scene to assess the situation. They discovered Abdulrahman’s lifeless body amid the remnants of the violent incident.

The scene was harrowing, marked by a visible trail of blood and the anguished reactions of community members who had gathered to witness the aftermath. The loss of such a young life sent shockwaves through Komrabai Water Village and its surrounding areas.

As news of Abdulrahman’s death spread, the village was engulfed in sorrow. Community members mourned the loss of the 13-year-old boy, laying him to rest amidst tears and grief.

In a village that still bears the scars of Sierra Leone’s civil war, the gravity of this incident resonates deeply.

Abdulrahman’s untimely death serves as a poignant reminder of the lingering dangers posed by unexploded ordnance and the urgent need for community awareness and education about such hazards.