Catholic bishops in Sierra Leone condemn rising attacks on clergy and church missions after a priest was assaulted and another killed.
Newsroom (06/02/2026 Gaudium Press ) In Sierra Leone, the Catholic hierarchy has issued a stark denunciation of what it calls a disturbing surge in violence against clergy and religious institutions. In a strongly worded statement, the Catholic Bishops of Sierra Leone “unequivocally condemn the chain of attacks against the Clergy, Religious and the looting of mission properties in our Dioceses,” following yet another violent assault against a priest.
The most recent incident occurred on January 27, when Father James Joshua Jamiru, parish priest of the Church of the Assumption of Mary in Pendembu, Upper Bambara, was attacked by an intruder who had broken into his rectory. The priest sustained injuries to his hands, head, and knees before the assailant was apprehended by police.
The bishops’ statement expresses “deep concern and solidarity in the face of the frequent attacks on our priests and religious, and the looting of mission stations.” The Church’s leadership recalls that this is not an isolated event. In August of last year, another clergyman, Father Augustine Dauda Amadu, parish priest of the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Kenema, was killed in his home on the night of August 30.
According to police investigations, six suspects were charged in connection with Father Amadu’s death. The attackers allegedly broke into his rectory armed with a homemade gun, seeking to steal a laptop valued at $350 and 5,000 Sierra Leonean Leones in cash.
The bishops underscore that the period between the killing of Father Amadu and the assault on Father Jamiru has been marked by a troubling rise in thefts and robberies aimed at church facilities and personnel. “We reaffirm our unwavering solidarity with the Priests, Religious and Lay Faithful who have been traumatized by armed robberies, invasion of their residences and the systematic looting of mission properties intended for the service of the poor and needy,” the bishops said.
Their declaration, culminating in the emphatic statement “enough is enough,” conveys the Church’s growing frustration with the deteriorating security situation. The bishops are calling on law enforcement authorities to take “concrete measures” to halt what they describe as an escalating campaign of violence against the Church and its workers.
As the Catholic community reels from these attacks, the bishops’ message serves as both a call for justice and a plea for national attention to the safety of religious leaders who dedicate their lives to serving Sierra Leone’s most vulnerable.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Fides News
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