By Davida Spaine -Solomon
Freetown, 24th August, 2026 – The Sierra Leone Correctional Service (SLCS) has dismissed reports circulating on social media claiming that inmate Zainab Sheriff is dead. The SLCS has confirmed that she is alive and receiving medical attention for a breast-related complaint.
Speaking to Truth Media, Superintendent Nannah Sesay, head of media and public relations at the SLCS, said that Sheriff reported feeling unwell about two weeks ago, complaining of pain in her breast. She was initially examined by medical practitioners at the Correctional Centre’s sick bay before the institution contacted the Pink Breast Cancer Foundation for further assessment, according to Sesay.
Following that examination, Sesay said Sheriff was referred to two specialists, Dr Cummings John and Dr Sara Abu-Noah, who subsequently visited the correctional centre and conducted their own examinations. The doctors later recommended that she undergo a scan, which was conducted on Monday, August 17, and Sheriff returned to the centre afterwards.
“She was okay when she returned. She walked by herself and even told me that the pain she had been experiencing in her breast had improved,” Sesay said, adding that Sheriff was able to eat after returning from the hospital and described her condition as improving.
Sesay also confirmed that Sheriff’s family is aware of her medical condition, noting that her aunt, whom Sheriff refers to as her mother, has been visiting her on visiting days.
She explained that the family was not taken along for the hospital visit due to security considerations and because the Correctional Service did not want large numbers of people gathering around Sheriff during the process.
Discussing inmates’ medical conditions to the public, she said, “We have policies that guide what information we can make public, especially when it concerns an individual’s medical condition,” stressing that the institution would continue to provide appropriate updates.
The clarification follows a flyer circulating on social media over the weekend claiming that Sheriff had died. Sesay said the Correctional Service became aware of the report on Saturday but had not, as of the time of the interview, identified the person or persons responsible for creating or circulating it.
She urged members of the public and the media to verify sensitive information before sharing or acting on it, particularly when it concerns the health or death of an individual.
The SLCS, in its official statement issued on August 17, described the death report as “fake news” and reaffirmed that Sheriff is alive and she is recovering.
Sesay encouraged the public to contact the Correctional Service directly through the mobile number: +23278209506 for first-hand information. She said the institution maintains an open-door policy and remains committed to providing accurate information concerning inmates in their custody.
She also cautioned against the indiscriminate publication of medical information, noting that privacy and institutional policies must be respected while the public is kept appropriately informed.
The Correctional Service assured the public that it would continue to provide updates on Sheriff’s condition while urging citizens to refrain from spreading unverified reports.
