Man Confirms Death of Brother in Kono Mining Site Despite Police Denial

A Kono resident has confirmed the death of his 20-year-old brother in a mining collapse in Kumao Town, Nimikoro Chiefdom, Kono District, directly contradicting official statements from the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) and the Ministry of Information that denied any deaths or trapped victims.

The victim’s brother, Ibrahim S. Kamara, who resides in Bo, told BBC New Pidgin that his younger brother, Ismael Missalie, was killed on Sunday, October 19, 2025, when he was hit by a large rock in the abandoned mining pit.

Ibrahim Kamara stated that his deceased brother, Ismael, had traveled to Kono in 2024 to join their elder brother, who worked with a mining company and operated his own machine.

Kamara claims the site where his brother died was an abandoned mining pit where people still went to conduct illegal work.

According to Kamara’s account, Ismael was at the pit on Sunday, October 19, when a collapse occurred. “When he got there, he was standing when the storm happened and one big rock hit him in the hole,” Kamara said, describing his brother as a “gentle person” who went to the area to “assist the elder brother.”

The family’s confirmation of a death comes amidst widespread social media speculation that as many as 100 youths were trapped in the collapsed gold mining tunnel, sparking public outrage over alleged government inaction.

However, the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) and the Ministry of Information and Civic Education have dismissed these claims. In a statement released via the Ministry, the police confirmed that an on-site investigation was conducted on October 21, 2025, at the Kumao Town mine sites.

The official investigation reported finding “no evidence of anyone trapped” in the abandoned mines, no reports of missing persons, and stated that the area was “calm.”

The Ministry of Information also stated that it engaged with the Gold Lion Mining Company and local leaders, none of whom reported any missing persons.

The police have since invited staff of the Gold Lion Mining Company and local community leaders for questioning and have recommended that the company enhance safety protocols and establish a standby rescue team for future emergencies.