By Saidu Kargbo
Freetown, 6th May, 2026 — A community is in mourning after a devastating fire on Pademba Road claimed the life of eight-year-old Salamatu Bangura, leaving her family and neighbours shattered.
The blaze erupted in the early hours of May 1 at the residence of the Help Empower Polio Persons Organization (HEPPO), a settlement that shelters dozens of disabled residents and their families. Awakened by frantic screams around 2:00 a.m., residents rushed to escape the inferno that quickly consumed the makeshift structures.
For Salamatu’s mother, Fatmata Sesay, the night turned into an unimaginable nightmare. She recounted how the fire spread across their roof before they managed to flee. In the chaos, she believed her daughter had made it outside. Tragically, Salamatu misunderstood the instructions to leave and went back inside.
“We thought everyone was safe,” Fatmata said, her voice breaking. “We told her to move, but she went inside instead. We searched everywhere, but we couldn’t find her.”
It was only after firefighters subdued the flames that Salamatu’s remains were discovered. Her body was later taken to the mortuary, leaving the family in anguish and the community in shock.
The National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) reported that 256 people were affected, including 46 disabled households and 14 able-bodied families. Homes, belongings, and livelihoods were destroyed, but the loss of Salamatu has become the most painful reminder of the tragedy.
The Chairman of HEPPO, Yayah Sheku Sheriff, expressed frustration over the lack of communication regarding the burial. “We were told the child’s remains had been taken to the mortuary,” he said. “What we don’t know is when we will be allowed to bury her.”
Brima Abdulai Sheriff, Chairman of the National Commission for Persons With Disability, confirmed he had reached out to the Ministry of Social and Religious Affairs but received no response.
As Salamatu’s family waits for answers, the community continues to grieve the little girl whose life was cut short in the flames. For them, the fire was not just a disaster; it was the loss of a child whose absence would forever haunt Pademba Road.
