By Foday Moriba Conteh
Zainab Sesay, a native of Mamboi Village in Safrokoh Chiefdom, Karane District, Northern Province, has reportedly fled a traditional Bondo society initiation after allegedly being pressured to succeed her late mother as head of the society.
According to information gathered during an investigation, Sesay, the eldest daughter of the late Isatu Sesay, allegedly faced pressure to assume her mother’s position as head of the Sowie Bondo Society following her mother’s death on January 5, 2026.
Zainab was born and raised in Mamboi Village before moving to Freetown to pursue university education at Fourah Bay College (FBC), University of Sierra Leone, after completing secondary school. Following her graduation, she reportedly returned to her home village in December 2025 to live with her family.
Sources familiar with the matter alleged that shortly after her mother’s funeral, Zainab was taken to the Bondo bush for traditional initiation rites associated with assuming the leadership position.
She reportedly spent about five days at the initiation site before escaping, allegedly out of fear for her life and unwillingness to complete the process.
During her escape, she reportedly sustained several injuries, including a suspected bone fracture.
After leaving the initiation site, Zainab allegedly sought assistance at the Mamboi Village Police Station. She was subsequently referred to a local health centre for medical attention. However, due to the reported severity of her injuries, she was transferred to the police hospital in Kingtom, Freetown, before later being moved to Connaught Hospital for further treatment.
Further information gathered during the investigation suggests that a relative who accompanied Zainab to Freetown allegedly supported the move for her to succeed her late mother as head of the society.
The relative is also alleged to have maintained communication with members of the Bondo society in Mamboi Village, with the intention of facilitating Zainab’s return to the village after she recovered from her injuries so that she could complete the initiation.
According to the information obtained, Zainab later became aware of the alleged communication between her relative and members of the society.
Fearing that she might be taken back to the village against her wishes, she reportedly left the hospital before fully recovering from her injuries.
At the time of publication, her whereabouts remained unknown.
The investigation further indicates that members of the Bondo society have reportedly launched a search for Zainab following her disappearance.
The circumstances surrounding her alleged escape, the injuries she reportedly sustained and the claims that efforts were being made to return her to the village raise concerns about her safety and freedom to make decisions concerning her own participation in traditional practices.
While Bondo is an established traditional institution in Sierra Leone, any allegations of coercion, physical harm or threats against an individual warrant careful investigation by the relevant authorities.
Over the years, international media organisations have reported numerous cases of deaths and other related complications associated with Bondo Society initiations in Sierra Leone.
