Police at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) headquarters in Freetown are currently investigating a case of arson which took place on February 24th in Bunumbu Town, Pege West Chiefdom, Kailahun District.
The matter was initially investigated by Police in Daru after a group of people burnt down the home of a Philanthropist, Rev Dr. Peter Kugba Nyande.
But sources within the corridors of CID headquarters told Concord Times that the Paramount Chief , Bunumbu town chief, Alpha Moigua, and one William Ellie were officially invited to the CID for questioning and to help with the investigation.
Rev Nyande is a retired preacher who has built two schools and spearheaded the building of a brand new church in Bunumbu.
The event started around 9 am on the 24th of February 2025, when an alleged leader of a clique was arrested for initiating boys into his gang and that a friend of his, called John, orchestrated the suspect’s escape.
John, according to sources, was mobbed and taken to the residence of Paramount Chief Shamsu Mustapha while the suspected clique leader was taken to the police.
Eye witness account reports that PC Shamsu Mustapha allegedly declared the case to be in the jurisdiction of the poro secrete society. Sources in the chiefdom had alleged that the Paramount Chief ordered the mother of John to be arrested and initiated into the poro society but that the said mother went into hiding.
At around 9 pm on February 24, it was reported that the newly appointed town Chief of Bunumbu Alpha Moigua was seen allegedly making phone calls and mobilising youth to assemble in Bunumbu town to burn down Rev. Nyande’s house.
The house, according to reports, was comprehensively looted before being set on fire.
Many stakeholders in Bunumbu pointed fingers at the Paramount Chief, accusing him of allegedly referring every issue to the poro society, especially if he sees one as an opponent.
When contacted on phone, PC Shamshu Mustapha denied the claims, saying “I cannot comment on what happened here because I can risk my life. If you know me better then you will know that I cannot order someone to even beat up another let alone burn down a whole house.
