Ebola threat looms as robbers target graves

Freetown, February 8 

New security measures were in place at cemeteries in the Sierra Leone capital Freetown after grave robbers used pickaxes and sledge hammers to pry open tombs and steal coffins and jewellery.

Freetown City Council said around 250 graves were targeted in three of Freetown's seven cemeteries over the past two months. At one of the cemeteries targeted, Kingtom, 60 per cent of the more than 6,000 graves were those of Ebola victims. Council's environment and social officer Sulaiman Zainu-Parker said: “The thefts were a total disgrace to us as a nation...why can't they leave the dead to finally rest in peace undisturbed?" Abdul Rahman, caretaker of Kingtom cemetery, said robbers forced "open concrete graves and vaults to steal ornaments, chains, wedding rings and clothes". — AFP