Six-month prison sentences or fines of Le 30,000 send a strong warning to environmental violators The National Protected Area Authority (NPAA) has secured the conviction of 17 defendants at the Mena Hills Magistrate Court in Makeni for conservation-related offences committed in the Outamba-Kilimi National Park (OKNP), reinforcing the Authority’s commitment to protecting Sierra Leone’s natural heritage and combating environmental crimes. The convictions were handed down on Thursday, October 15, 2026, by Magistrate Ishmael Kabinneh, following legal proceedings against the defendants, who were reportedly apprehended while carrying out illegal activities in Tantan Village, within the protected area. The charges included conspiracy, illegal mining, unlawful entry and illegal deforestation. The court proceedings followed the issuance of bench warrants at an earlier sitting, underscoring the importance of compliance with court orders and accountability under the law.
The NPAA’s case was presented by a legal team comprising Dauda L. Bangura, Esq., Legal Officer Ibrahim Bangura and Police Officer 17320. All 17 defendants were convicted and each sentenced to six months’ imprisonment or a fine of Le 30,000. The judgment sends a clear warning to individuals and groups engaged in activities that threaten protected areas: illegal mining, deforestation and unauthorized entry into national parks can carry serious legal consequences. Outamba-Kilimi National Park is an important part of Sierra Leone’s natural heritage. Illegal exploitation of its resources threatens wildlife habitats, biodiversity and the ecological balance that protected areas are established to preserve. Safeguarding these resources requires effective enforcement, public cooperation and respect for conservation laws. The convictions also highlight the role of the NPAA in pursuing legal action against alleged environmental offenders and working with the judiciary and law-enforcement agencies to ensure that conservation laws are enforced.
The Authority’s message to environmental violators is unequivocal: protected areas are not open for illegal exploitation. Anyone who engages in activities that violate conservation laws risks prosecution and punishment in accordance with the law. The NPAA therefore calls on communities, traditional leaders, resource users and the general public to support conservation efforts by reporting illegal activities and respecting the boundaries and regulations governing protected areas. Protecting Sierra Leone’s national parks is a shared responsibility. Through firm law enforcement, public awareness and community participation, the NPAA remains committed to safeguarding the country’s biodiversity for present and future generations.
