The integrity of police investigations into the deaths of two toddlers found dead at the National Pentecostal School in March has come under scrutiny by parents of the deceased.
In a joint statement last Saturday, the grieving families said the circumstances surrounding the death of their children remain highly suspicious. They claim the coroner’s report, which indicated that the children died of suffocation, lacks credibility. They further alleged negligence and a cover-up in the investigation and demanded that ‘justice must prevail’ in this matter.
The children were reported missing during school hours on 18 March and were discovered lifeless 11 hours later inside an abandoned vehicle on the school premises. An official autopsy revealed the cause of death to be ‘asphyxia, suffocation, and inhalation of irrespirable gas, consistent with carbon monoxide poisoning.’
The two families expressed deep sorrow, frustration, and suspicion. They questioned the police release of suspects before the autopsy was carried out, including the removal of the vehicle from the crime scene and the silence of the ministries of Social Welfare and Education.
The families also highlighted what they described as “disturbing inconsistencies” in the police investigation, questioning why the children’s bodies were not drenched in sweat if they were trapped for hours in the heat. They queried how the children entered the vehicle unnoticed and why the existence of a fourth child was initially withheld. They also questioned why the class teacher abandoned the classroom earlier than expected and why the children had previously come home wearing only underwear vests, which they believe points to their children being targeted.
The families are demanding full transparency from the Sierra Leone Police, immediate disclosure of the vehicle’s whereabouts, formal investigations into school staff and church leaders, protection and testimony from the fourth child, a supervised statement from the surviving child, a public response from relevant ministries, and an independent investigation with oversight from civil society and legal experts.
Stating that “the time for patience is over,” the families threatened to take legal action, demanding an independent inquiry and initiating legal proceedings against those responsible for negligence or obstruction. They also have called on the president to intervene, urging the public to stand with them in their pursuit of justice. They also made a passionate appeal to civil society, human rights organizations, legal advocates, and the media to support their cause and ensure the matter is not buried.