Mob Attack in Freetown Leaves One Dead, Another Missing

By Musa Koroma

Freetown, Sierra Leone – In April 2021, a tragic case of mob violence erupted in the heart of Freetown, leaving one man dead and another missing after a same-sex relationship was discovered inside a private home on Short Street, Central Freetown.

According to multiple eyewitness accounts gathered during this investigation, the incident began when a woman named Adama, believed to be romantically interested in Ibrahim Jalloh, paid him a surprise visit. Upon arriving at the compound, Adama reportedly became suspicious after finding the door locked. Curious, she peered through a window and pushed aside the curtain—only to witness Ibrahim in an intimate position with another man, identified as Madieu Ishmail Jalloh.

Adama screamed in shock, summoning neighbors who quickly stormed the premises. What followed was a scene of chaos and violence.

“The whole street erupted. People were shouting and calling others to come and see what was happening,” one resident told this reporter on condition of anonymity. “It turned into a mob within minutes.”

The enraged crowd broke into the room, Madieu managed to escape through a window despite attempts by some in the mob to capture him. However, Ibrahim was not as fortunate. Witnesses say he was mercilessly beaten with sticks, stones, and belts until he fell unconscious.

“He was crying for help, but the mob didn’t stop,” another eyewitness recounted. “They said he had brought shame to the community.”

Local accounts indicate that Ibrahim succumbed to his injuries later that night. His body was reportedly retrieved by relatives and buried quietly, with no formal police investigation or autopsy conducted.

Madieu, the second man, has not been seen since the attack. Residents speculate that he fled the city or possibly the country to escape retaliation. “From that day, nobody knows where he is,” said a community elder.

The attack highlights the grave risks faced by LGBTQ individuals in Sierra Leone, where homosexuality is criminalized with penalties of up to 14 years in prison. Beyond legal dangers, those suspected of same-sex relationships often endure mob justice, family rejection, and severe stigma.

Human rights activists have condemned such attacks, criticizing authorities for their failure to investigate. “Cases like this rarely make it to court. Instead, communities take the law into their own hands, and lives are lost,” one activist told this reporter.

As of today, no arrests have been made, and Madieu Ishmail Jalloh remains missing. The killing of Ibrahim Jalloh is yet another grim reminder of the deadly consequences of homophobia in Sierra Leone—a society where intolerance can ignite fatal violence in moments.