Freetown, Monday, June 15, 2026 – The Director General of the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), John Vandy Rogers, and a team of senior officials visited Nyapui School for Girls in Kenema on Saturday June 13, 2026, and announced plans to establish an inter agency investigative committee to determine the cause of the recurring fire incidents that have ravaged the school, following the fourth fire outbreak at the institution in just five months.
The latest blaze, which occurred on Thursday June 11, 2026, destroyed a long administrative building that housed the Principal’s Office, the Computer Laboratory, several administrative offices, and classrooms that had been temporarily allocated to students whose original classrooms were destroyed during the third fire incident.
The NDMA Eastern Region Team responded promptly to the incident and coordinated response efforts with other stakeholders and helped extinguish the fire. The Agency has since cordoned off the entire building gutted by the blaze to preserve the scene and support further investigations.
The Director General was accompanied by the Deputy Director General, Sulaiman B. Sowa; the Chief of Operations, Kai Banya; and other senior directors of the Agency.
During an engagement with the school’s administration, staff and other stakeholders, extensive discussions were held on the circumstances surrounding the repeated fire incidents. Preliminary assessments and engagement with stakeholders raised reasonable suspicions that the fires may not be ordinary occurrences.
Addressing the school authorities, DG Rogers disclosed that the Agency would establish an inter agency investigative committee comprising representatives from the environmental sector, security institutions, and local authorities to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the incidents and produce a detailed report.
“We cannot continue to witness repeated fire outbreaks of this magnitude at a single educational institution without a thorough investigation. The committee will establish the facts surrounding these incidents, and the NDMA will ensure that appropriate follow up actions are taken based on the findings and recommendations,” he stated.
The Director General emphasized that education remains a flagship priority of the Government and described Nyapui School for Girls as a nationally respected institution that attracts students not only from across Sierra Leone but also from neighbouring countries. He noted that the repeated destruction of the school infrastructure is a matter of serious concern that required urgent attention.
DG Rogers further assured the school administration that the NDMA would engage development partners to mobilize timely relief supplies and reconstruction materials to support recovery efforts and help restore normal learning conditions at the school.
The Deputy Director General, Sulaiman B. Sowa, reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to supporting public institutions affected by disasters particularly schools. He stressed that the protection of educational facilities is essential to safeguarding the future of the nation’s children and advancing national development.
Similarly, the Chief of Operations, Kai Banya, commended the NDMA Eastern Region Team for its swift response and effective coordination with other responding institutions in bringing the fire under control. He also assured the school administration that the NDMA would continue to coordinate with relevant stakeholders to support the school’s recovery from the devastating incident.
Speaking on behalf of the school, the Principal, Mrs. Magdalene Belmore described the impact of the recurring fires as devastating to both learning and the overall wellbeing of students and staff.
She explained that the school which operates as a boarding institution, has been severely affected by the repeated destruction of facilities, leaving inadequate classroom space and accommodation for students.
“The students are traumatised, and the situation has greatly affected effective teaching and learning. We no longer have sufficient classrooms and facilities to comfortably accommodate our students,” she said.
Mrs. Belmore appealed to the Government, development partners, and other well wishers to provide urgent support to help the school recover and continue its educational mission.
The Director General concluded by pledging that the NDMA would work with all relevant authorities to uncover the cause of the recurring fires and support efforts aimed at rebuilding the affected facilities and restoring normalcy at Nyapui School for Girls.
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