In a somber gathering at SLAJ office on Campbell Street in Freetown, on Saturday, May 3, 2025, the bereaved families of the two toddlers who tragically lost their lives on March 17, 2025, at the National Pentecostal School united in their heartache, frustration, have demanded for justice for their innocent children who were reported missing during school hours, only to be discovered lifeless 11 agonizing hours later, trapped inside a black vehicle parked within the compound belonging to the bishop of the National Pentecostal Church.

This harrowing revelation, unearthed in the vicinity of the school, has torn apart their lives and raised profound questions that remain painfully unanswered.

Since that fateful day, the families have willingly cooperated with law enforcement investigations in hopes of uncovering the truth. Yet, the unsettling silence from authorities, coupled with glaring inconsistencies in the unfolding narrative, signs of neglect, and a troubling lack of urgency, has only deepened their sorrow and intensified their suspicions. The trust they once held in the institutions designed to protect their children has been irrevocably shattered.

The results of the official autopsy confirmed their worst fears, revealing heart-wrenching details; their beloved children had succumbed to asphyxia due to inhaling carbon monoxide. Medical examinations showed ominously cherry-red discoloration in their organs and blood, indicating severe oxygen deprivation to the brain. Disturbingly, there were no signs of physical trauma, leading experts to believe that the children perished due to exposure to toxic gas rather than any form of abuse.

The families are rightfully outraged by the premature release of all suspects before even conducting a thorough autopsy and making the results public. The vehicle where the children met their tragic end was hastily removed and remains unaccounted for, adding to the cloud of secrecy surrounding this case. To date, the Ministries of Social Welfare and Education have remained conspicuously silent, neglecting the gravity of this incomprehensible loss.

Alongside their grief, the families grapple with deeply troubling inconsistencies surrounding the incident. If their children were indeed locked in a vehicle for hours under the sweltering March sun, why were their bodies not drenched in sweat upon discovery? Who is the fourth child that was reportedly present, and why has their family chosen to remain silent amidst this tragedy? Why did the class teacher abandon the classroom early and delay reporting the incident to the police? Furthermore, why were both children sent home a day prior to their deaths wearing only undergarment vests—an alarming detail that has yet to be investigated?

The families demand full transparency and accountability from the Sierra Leone Police. They insist on the immediate disclosure of the vehicle’s whereabouts and its current condition. They are calling for a rigorous and formal investigation into the actions of the school staff, church leaders, and all adults involved in this unsettling matter. The identity of the fourth child must be established and protected, with their testimony taken in a safe and supervised environment. A public statement from the Ministries of Social Welfare and Education is long overdue, and there is an urgent need for an independent investigation, overseen by civil society, legal experts, and advocates for human rights.

Gone are the days of passively waiting for responses. The families are prepared to take legal action to ensure justice is served. They will pursue an independent inquiry and initiate proceedings against anyone found responsible for negligence or obstruction. If necessary, they will escalate their case to regional and international human rights institutions.

They called upon His Excellency, President Julius Maada Bio, to step in as the guardian of justice and ensure that the truth is unveiled. They urged the government, the citizens of Sierra Leone, and the diaspora to stand united with them in this poignant fight for justice. This tragedy transcends their individual loss; it resonates as a national wound that demands healing and accountability.

To civil society organizations, defenders of human rights, legal professionals, and the press: they implore you to keep asking the hard questions and to resist silence in the face of this injustice. Let this tragic incident not be swept under the rug and dismissed.

Our children mattered profoundly. Their lives carried significance. Their untimely deaths must not go unanswered. The families will not rest until justice is rightfully served.