Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, the Mayor of Freetown, has described the city as a “city of dead bodies” during a recent interview on a local radio station.
This grim description comes as Freetown grapples with a surge in drug-related deaths, particularly linked to the synthetic drug known as kush.
Mayor Aki-Sawyerr revealed that since January 2025, more than 220 unidentified bodies have been recovered from the streets of the capital an alarming sign of Sierra Leone’s deepening drug crisis.
“The situation is deeply troubling,” she said. “From January to date, we have collected more than 220 unidentified corpses. If nothing urgent is done, the numbers will only continue to rise. This is not just an FCC issue it is now a national crisis.”
The Mayor announced that the Freetown City Council (FCC) will soon establish a special burial team to collect and bury these bodies. This team will work in collaboration with health authorities, the police, and community leaders to ensure the proper handling and dignified burial of the deceased.
She stressed that while the initiative is necessary, it is a heartbreaking reflection of the devastating impact that drug abuse especially kush is having on Sierra Leone’s youth.
“It is unacceptable to see young people, who are supposed to take over after us, dying all because of drug abuse. This is a clear warning that it’s high time we take the fight against drugs seriously. This is not just about what the FCC is doing we all must come together: government, parents, and communities to get rid of kush before it’s too late.”
Mayor Aki-Sawyerr also disclosed that other countries in the region, such as Guinea, have begun deporting Sierra Leoneans suspected of drug involvement as part of their anti-drug crackdowns.
“Even though it is shameful to see our brothers and sisters being deported for drug-related issues, it shows the level of seriousness those governments are attaching to the fight against drug abuse. We too must show the same commitment if we truly want to save our youth and our country.”
In closing, the Mayor called for a more robust and united response to the crisis, emphasizing the need for both strong law enforcement and compassionate rehabilitation programs to combat the rising death toll and save future generations.
