Grandfather Faces 70 Years After Torture Leaves 5-Year-Old Grandson Without Both Arms
By Patrick Sallia
A 54-year-old farmer is facing a lengthy prison sentence after subjecting his five-year-old grandson to a brutal punishment that ultimately resulted in the loss of both of the child’s arms. The abuse occurred on Thursday, 12 February 2026 at Sussex Village along the Freetown Peninsula,
Abubakarr Jalloh appeared before High Court Judge Justice Simeon Allieu in Freetown on Thursday, 18 June 2026, where he pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
Following the guilty plea, State Prosecutor Yusif Isaac Sesay withdrew a second charge of child torture in the interest of conserving state resources.
The prosecution has urged the court to impose the maximum sentence of 70 years imprisonment, while insisting on a minimum sentence of 30 years. Justice Allieu has deferred sentencing until Friday, 19 June 2026.
Court records revealed that Jalloh, who was residing in Sussex Village along the Freetown Peninsula, summoned his daughter, Hassanatu Jalloh, from the provinces and offered her the opportunity to manage his plot of land at Hill Station (Imatt), on the condition that she relocate with her three children.
After a brief stay in Sussex, Hassanatu and her husband, Alimamy Kanu, moved to the Hill Station property. At Jalloh’s insistence, however, they left behind their youngest son, five-year-old Mustapha Kanu, in his grandfather’s care.
Mustapha lived with Jalloh, his step-grandmother Kadijatu Kamara, and Jalloh’s 14-year-old son, Mohamed. During the seven months he remained there, he was never enrolled in school.
According to evidence before the court, Kadijatu had gone to conduct business while Mohamed was preparing for school when Jalloh sent both boys to a nearby telecentre to charge his mobile phone.
Upon arrival, the telecentre operator informed them that the correct charger was already available. Mohamed handed the charger to Mustapha and instructed him to return it home while he continued to school.
When the child arrived home later than expected, Jalloh became enraged.
The court heard that he tied Mustapha’s hands to a wooden stick in a crucifix-like position using an inner tyre tube. He then poured boiling water and pepper on the child’s hands.
Ignoring the child’s cries of pain, Jalloh reportedly locked him inside the house and left for the remainder of the day.
Later that afternoon, Mohamed returned from school and found Mustapha still tied up and in severe pain.
When asked what had happened, the child reportedly replied in Krio:
“Na grandpa. E put hot wata en peppeh na me hand, ar dae feel pain.”
Translated, the child said:
“It was grandpa. He put hot water and pepper on my hands. I am in pain.”
Fearful of his father’s violent temperament, Mohamed did not untie the boy.
It was not until evening that Kadijatu returned from the market, discovered Mustapha’s condition, and immediately freed him.
When she confronted her husband, Jalloh allegedly dismissed the matter, claiming the child had a habit of absconding from home.
Kadijatu later handed Jalloh NLe300 from her business earnings and instructed him to take the boy to hospital.
Instead, he allegedly kept the money and failed to seek medical treatment.
By the third day, Mustapha’s injuries had deteriorated significantly.
Jalloh then contacted a neighbour, Salaimatu Koroma, falsely claiming that the child had been involved in an accident and sustained burns.
Koroma immediately assisted in transporting the child to a nearby clinic, where medical staff referred him to Emergency Hospital because of the severity of his condition.
At Emergency Hospital, Matron Bintu Jawara reportedly observed signs consistent with serious abuse and alerted officers at the Adonkia Police Station.
Police officers responded promptly and arrested Jalloh.
Meanwhile, Hassanatu rushed to the hospital while notifications were sent to the child’s father, Alimamy Kanu, who was still in the provinces.
Doctors at Emergency Hospital informed the family that both of Mustapha’s arms would have to be amputated in order to save his life.
Devastated by the diagnosis, the parents rejected the recommendation and sought a second opinion at Connaught Hospital.
Doctors there reached the same conclusion.
Still unwilling to accept the prognosis, the family followed the advice of Jalloh’s brother, Gibrilla Jalloh, who claimed that a healer in Bo could save the child’s arms without surgery.
Mustapha was subsequently taken to Bo, where he spent nearly a month without receiving effective medical treatment.
As his condition worsened, the damaged limbs began to decay.
The court heard that both arms eventually detached naturally at the elbow joints.
Upon learning what had happened, Alimamy travelled to Bo and nearly engaged in a physical confrontation with his uncle-in-law over the child’s treatment.
A week earlier, Jalloh had appeared before the court visibly distressed, wearing a worn combat-green shirt and trousers folded below his knees, with an unkempt afro hairstyle.
However, during Thursday’s proceedings, he appeared clean-shaven and bald, dressed in a neat white polo shirt. He stood in the dock with his head bowed and avoided eye contact with the judge.
In a heartbreaking moment, five-year-old Mustapha was brought before the court for judicial observation.
Unaware of the significance of the proceedings or the permanence of his disability, the child played quietly inside the courtroom.
In the public gallery, his mother, Hassanatu, sat weeping silently, overwhelmed by grief and unable to raise her head.
Justice Simeon Allieu is expected to deliver the final sentence on Friday, 19 June 2026.
