Decomposed Bodies On Freetown Streets

By JKM

A silent but dangerous crisis is unfolding in Freetown—one that residents say authorities can no longer ignore.

Across the city, bodies have reportedly been left in the open for days—and sometimes weeks—uncollected, unattended, and visibly decaying. These grim scenes have been seen at Cottage Hospital, Eastern Police Station, ECOWAS Street, Akram by Bummeh, areas around the Freetown City Council, the Old Railway Line, behind abandoned building, Kingtom and even under bridges, where few passers-by notice.

The result is an unbearable stench, growing public fear of disease, and an urgent question from citizens: has the system collapsed?

Residents and traders describe bodies lying along busy streets, exposed to the sun and rain, while authorities fail to respond.

“This is a health hazard,” said a trader near Cottage Hospital. “We are breathing this air every day. If disease breaks out, who will take responsibility?”

Public health experts warn that decomposing human remains can contaminate the environment and spread disease, especially in crowded urban areas. Despite these warnings, there seems to be no organized response from the authorities.

A passer-by shared a grim account of what she witnessed. “The government must enforce laws to care for people living on the streets. Many of these deceased were homeless and vulnerable,” she said.

She directly blamed the Freetown City Council, stating that sanitation and public health are their responsibility. Her story grew more disturbing:

“At Akram by Bummeh, and behind some abandoned warehouses in Wilberforce, I personally saw bodies lying in the open. No one came to remove them. That should not happen anywhere.”

The Local Government Act of 2004 mandates the Freetown City Council to maintain sanitation, protect public health, and control environmental hazards. Similarly, the Constitution of Sierra Leone (1991) obliges the state to safeguard the health, welfare, and dignity of its citizens.

Yet in Freetown, these responsibilities are failing. Coordination between the City Council, the Sierra Leone Police, and health authorities is reportedly slow, ineffective, or absent.

Many of the deceased are believed to be among the city’s most vulnerable—people living on the streets without care, shelter, or social support. Their deaths raise serious concerns about social protection, urban governance, and respect for human dignity.

“This is not just about sanitation,” said another resident. “It shows how the poorest people are treated—even in death.”

Public frustration is growing. Citizens are calling for:

• Immediate removal of bodies from public spaces
• Rapid-response and sanitation teams
• Clear accountability from authorities
• Strong enforcement of public health laws

The passer-by emphasized that citizens must cooperate with government efforts, but leadership must come from the authorities.

While this investigation focuses on Freetown, reports suggest similar incidents may be occurring elsewhere in Sierra Leone. If left unchecked, what is happening on Freetown’s streets could escalate into a wider national public health crisis.

As decomposed bodies continue to appear—and remain—on public streets, the urgent question remains: who is responsible for removing the dead, and why are they not acting?