The fatal shooting at the Armed Forces Training Centre AFTC in Benguema-Waterloo on Wednesday, 14 January 2026, has intensified scrutiny of Sierra Leone’s security services, as evidence suggests the killing is not an isolated act but part of a troubling pattern of internal violence involving armed officers and their superiors.
At about 11:00 a.m., Corporal Kamara, also known as “No. 9,” shot and killed Major Abdul Larkoh, a senior officer of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF), inside the Benguema training facility. In a statement issued hours later, military authorities confirmed that the corporal subsequently attempted to take his own life. He was arrested in critical condition and rushed to the 34 Military Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
RSLAF leadership announced an immediate investigation but provided no details regarding the motive, the weapon involved, or whether warning signs had been identified prior to the shooting. As of publication, no independent oversight body has been named to participate in the inquiry.
The Benguema killing echoes an earlier deadly incident within the Presidential Guard Unit at Freetown International Airport. In that case, Warrant Officer Class I Moses Brima Kabba, the officer in command of the Airport Presidential Guard, was fatally shot by Corporal Steven (service number 18181456). According to witnesses, the shooting occurred after an argument over the distribution of token money, which the Vice President reportedly handed out before his departure. Corporal Steven allegedly accused WOI Kabba of withholding funds that should have been distributed to other members of the unit.
Sources also reported that President Julius Maada Bio distributed cash to members of the Presidential Guard when he returned from a trip to Angola, but unit leaders reportedly failed to allocate the funds evenly. The dispute is believed to have escalated into violence, culminating in the shooting. The suspect was later apprehended by a joint RSLAF–Sierra Leone Police operation and is currently in military custody. WOI Kabba’s body was taken to the Lungi Government Hospital mortuary for postmortem examination. Authorities have not yet confirmed a motive or indicated what charges may be filed, and investigations are ongoing.
Security analysts argue that these two cases point to systemic failures rather than isolated acts of indiscipline, including weak accountability structures, unresolved grievances, psychological stress, and the routine arming of personnel without adequate conflict resolution safeguards.
The Benguema incident is particularly disturbing given the role of the Armed Forces Training Centre as the cornerstone of military professionalism and discipline. The killing of a senior officer within such a facility raises fundamental questions about command oversight and early warning mechanisms.
As investigations continue, the public remains dependent on official assurances rather than verifiable findings. No timeline has been announced for the conclusion of either probe, nor has there been clarity on whether investigation reports will be made public.
For now, the deaths of Major Abdul Larkoh and Warrant Officer Class I Moses Brima Kabba stand as stark reminders of a deepening crisis within Sierra Leone’s armed institutions, one that critics say requires not just investigations, but structural reform and transparent accountability.
