President of Catholic Priests in Sierra Leone Appeals for Justice for Colleague Murdered while Preparing for New Mission

Freetown, 19 September, 2025 / 11:05 PM

The President of Catholic Priests in Sierra Leone has appealed to authorities in the country to “to act decisively” in delivering justice to the Church, and the family of Fr. Augustine Amadu who was murdered on August 30 while he was preparing to take on a new mission in Sierra Leone’s Catholic Diocese of Kenema.

In a reflection he shared with ACI Africa on Friday, September 19, the day that Fr. Amadu was laid to rest, Fr. Peter Konteh underlined the need for justice “so that no other family, no other community, and no other Church may endure such pain again.”

Describing the laying to rest of Fr. Amadu as “a solemn moment of faith, grief, and remembrance,” Fr. Konteh said, “We cry not only for the loss of a priest who gave his life in service to God and His people, but also for justice. Justice for Fr. Augustine, who was brutally taken from us, and justice for the many innocent people who continue to suffer at the hands of criminals.”

Fr. Amadu who served at Kenema’s Immaculate Conception Parish was preparing for his Sunday, August 31 farewell Mass when suspected robbers ended his life.

His next pastoral assignment would have been at St. John Kailahun Parish of Kenema.

According to the Sierra Leonean Police (SLP), Fr. Amadu was attacked at night in the Parish house where he lived alone. The authorities said in a statement on August 30 that parishioners at Immaculate Conception Parish raised the alarm about the murder.

In his reflection, Fr. Konteh who also serves as the Second Vice President of the Religious Union of the Diocesan Priests of West Africa (RUPWA) underlined the need for Sierra Leonean authorities to start thinking critically about the rise in insecurity in the country.

He said that Fr. Amadu’s brutal killing brings to the fore the growing greed among young people who are resorting to shortcuts in their pursuit for wealth.

“This tragedy compels us to reflect on the root causes of crime in our society,” he said, and explained, “Too many of our young people seek quick wealth without hard work. They desire money but resist the dignity of labor.”

“An office job is not the only path to livelihood, nor should politics be seen as the only road to wealth. Our land is rich, yet underutilized. With the right guidance and support, our young people can channel their energy into productive ventures such as farming, craftsmanship, entrepreneurship, to build lives of dignity rather than destruction,” the Priest who also serves as the Executive Director of Caritas Freetown, the development arm of the Sierra Leonean Archdiocese said.

He said that Fr. Amadu’s death had plunged the Church in Sierra Leone into deep mourning. 

“We are a people of faith, a people of hope. Yet, even in this faith and hope, our human hearts ache with sorrow,” Fr. Peter said.

He added, “As we commend the soul of our brother Fr. Augustine to God, may he rest in eternal peace. At the same time, we raise our collective voice to demand justice.”

“We call on the authorities, especially the police, to provide answers and to act decisively, so that no other family, no other community, and no other Church may endure such pain again,” he said.