Court Proceeding Regarding Illegal Logging in National Park - Defendant Remanded

During a session at Pademba Road Court No. 1, the prosecution presented testimony from a witness regarding the defendant, a 35-year-old farmer charged with violations of Sierra Leone’s wildlife and conservation laws.

Chief Superintendent of Police Tommy B. Zizer, Esq., representing the prosecution, called Ibrahim Tanko, a civil servant with the National Protected Area Authority (NPAA), to provide evidence.

Tanko provided an account of the defendant’s activities observed within the Western Area Peninsula National Park.

Tanko testified that on Saturday, May 2, 2026, he was alerted by NPAA Director Alhaji S. Tunis to a fire within the protected area.

Upon arriving at the scene, Tanko reported observing the defendant cutting wood inside the forest, which is prohibited under conservation regulations.

Tanko stated that the defendant initially left the area when officials approached.

On the following day, Tanko returned to the location and encountered the defendant again, who was allegedly in possession of wood harvested from the protected forest.

The defendant was subsequently arrested and taken to Lumley Police Station, where a formal statement was recorded.

During cross-examination, the witness maintained his account regarding the defendant's unauthorized entry and activities within the park.

Magistrate Mustapha Brima Jah ordered the accused to be remanded at the correctional facility in Freetown due to the nature of the charges.

The matter has been adjourned until June 16, 2026, for further proceedings.

Illegal logging remains a challenge for Sierra Leone's forest reserves, contributing to deforestation and the loss of biodiversity.

Unauthorized activities, including tree cutting and land clearing without permits, impact the conservation of the country's ecological resources.

Environmental experts note that deforestation affects local ecosystems and the capacity of forests to sequester carbon.

Authorities continue to address illegal logging through legal protections and enforcement measures to support environmental security and sustainable development.