Catholic Priest in Sierra Leone murdered on eve of new mission

A Catholic Priests in Sierra Leone’s Catholic Diocese of Kenema was murdered on August 30 while he was preparing to take on a new mission in the Sierra Leonean Episcopal See.

According to information from the communication department of Sierra Leone’s Catholic Archdiocese of Freetown, Fr. Augustine 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 Diocese.

“We are saddened by the shocking news reaching us this morning (Sunday, August 31) about the demise of Reverend Father Augustine Amadu who was stabbed to death by armed robbers at his parish house in Kenema Diocese,” reads the report by the communication department of Freetown Archdiocese in part.

The report further reads, “Fr. Amadu was wrapping up his final days of his pastoral work at Immaculate Conception Parish, Kenema, preparing for his farewell Mass on Sunday before departing for his new assignment at St. John Parish, Kailahun after five years of devoted service.”

According to the Sierra Leonean Police N(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.

“At about 07:43 hours, the SLP received a report from a Catholic parishioner indicating that Rev. Fr. Amadu had been attacked overnight by unidentified armed men at his parish residence. The parish house, which the late priest occupied alone, was forcibly entered by the assailants through a damaged window,” read the police report.

“At this stage, it is unclear whether any property was taken away by the perpetrators,” the SLP reported, adding that the remains of Fr. Amadu had been taken in for a post-mortem examination.

According to the Sierra Leonean authorities, no suspects had been identified in the Catholic Priest’s murder as of August 30. The SLP however said that a number of parishioners and church authorities who reported for early morning service at the Parish were assisting with investigations.

“The Sierra Leone Police wishes to assure the public, particularly the Catholic community, that a full-scale investigation is underway to bring the perpetrators of this heinous crime to justice,” read the SLP report.