Kuntolor, Freetown — October 7, 2025: A tragic incident in the Kuntolor community in eastern Freetown has sparked outrage and calls for accountability after a two-day-old baby girl allegedly died from exposure to police tear gas during a violent land dispute.
Alpha Bangura, the grieving father, is demanding justice for his daughter, who he says was an innocent victim of excessive force used by police officers deployed to quell tensions over a contested plot of land. “She was born on Thursday morning and died on Saturday. We had nothing to do with the land issue,” Bangura told reporters, holding back tears.
The clash reportedly erupted on Saturday, October 4, when residents confronted individuals working on a disputed land. The land in question has long been the subject of a bitter dispute involving a local group known as Lifeline.
According to Bangura, sand was recently deposited on the disputed land, prompting community members to intervene and halt what they believed was unauthorized construction. Police were deployed to the scene, and the situation quickly escalated. “The police started firing tear gas into the community. People were running, screaming. The whole area was filled with thick smoke,” he recounted.
Bangura said the tear gas spread rapidly, infiltrating homes and affecting vulnerable residents, including children and the elderly. His newborn daughter was sleeping when two canisters reportedly landed near their window. “The window wasn’t closed. The gas entered the room. My child was gasping for air. She was too young, too fragile,” he said.
Efforts to reach the hospital were hampered by the chaos. “It took nearly two hours before we could get to Under-Five clinic. The nurse just looked at me and shook her head. My baby was gone,” Bangura said.
In the aftermath, community members expressed anger and sorrow, but Bangura urged restraint. “Violence won’t bring her back. I want accountability. I want those responsible to face the law,” he said.
Residents are now calling for an independent investigation into the incident and for authorities to hold those responsible accountable. They accuse the police of using unnecessary force instead of peacefully mediating the dispute.
The police are yet to comment on the incident.
The Kuntolor community remains in mourning, with many hoping that justice will be served and that such tragedies will never happen again.