Freetown, Sierra Leone. A secondary school teacher and community activist, Mrs. Ramatu Matt Fofanah, has reportedly gone missing under troubling circumstances after her home was found ransacked in the early hours of October 1, 2022.
A neighbour who raised the alarm said the house appeared to have been extensively vandalized, with no sign of Mrs. Fofanah or her family. The discovery has sparked growing concern among residents and colleagues, as no contact has been made with her since the incident.
Sources from her school confirmed that Mrs. Fofanah attended a Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) meeting at the Anne Walsh Memorial School on September 30, 2022. She reportedly informed colleagues that she was heading home afterward. The meeting ended at about 9:00 p.m., and she has not been seen or heard from since.
Close associates, including colleagues and neighbours, suspect that her disappearance may be linked to her outspoken stance against harmful traditional practices such as female genital mutilation (FGM), early marriage, and child abuse. According to these sources, she had previously faced tensions with some community members due to her advocacy work.
Mrs. Fofanah, who has taught for several years at the Anne Walsh Memorial School, is widely known for her commitment to both education and human rights advocacy. She regularly engaged students in discussions about the dangers and long-term effects of such practices, particularly on young girls. Her efforts extended into the wider community, where she organized awareness sessions to educate parents and young people.
As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official confirmation from authorities regarding her whereabouts or any formal investigation into the reported attack. Her disappearance has heightened concerns about the safety of activists and individuals who speak out against deeply rooted cultural practices in Sierra Leone.
The incident also raises broader questions about the level of protection available to human rights defenders and the responsiveness of law enforcement in addressing such sensitive cases.