Ansu Nyakeh Kamara, who was 17 at the time of the reported incident, allegedly escaped from a Poro Society bush in Kenema District on 15 December 2025 after being taken there against his will, according to family sources. The teenager, a native of Golahu in Tunkia Chiefdom, Sierra Leone, reportedly fled the area after resisting demands to undergo initiation.
An investigation conducted by one of our provincial reporters indicates that the incident reportedly followed the death of Ansu Nyakeh Kamara’s uncle, identified by family and community sources as Abubakarr, who was said to have held a leadership position within the Poro Society.
According to family members who spoke to this medium, traditional expectations allegedly required the teenager to succeed his late uncle by becoming a member of the society and eventually assuming responsibilities associated with the position. However, Ansu Nyakeh Kamara reportedly rejected the demand and made it clear that he did not want to be initiated.
His refusal, relatives alleged, was not accepted by some members of the society.
Family sources claimed that the 17-year-old was subsequently seized and forcefully taken to a secluded society bush, where he was allegedly subjected to physical mistreatment and sustained bodily injuries. According to their account, he managed to escape from the location on 15 December 2025 and fled the area.
At the time of the original report in December 2025, relatives said his whereabouts were unknown and that he had not returned to the community following the alleged incident.
Some residents of Tunkia Chiefdom who spoke to our provincial reporter alleged at the time that society members were searching for the teenager. According to the residents, his escape from the society bush is considered by some adherents to be a serious violation of traditional rules for which they believe he should be punished.
“He refused to take the position they said belonged to his uncle and after he escaped, the matter became very serious,” one resident claimed, requesting anonymity because of the sensitivity surrounding secret society matters.
Another family member expressed concern for the teenager’s safety, maintaining that the family simply wants him to be allowed to live without being compelled to participate in practices against his wishes.
The allegations surrounding Ansu Nyakeh Kamara reflect a broader human-rights concern that has periodically surfaced in provincial communities. Reports of forced initiation into traditional societies have previously been documented in Sierra Leone, including cases involving young people. In April 2025, residents of Dauda Town in Kenema District similarly complained about alleged forced Poro initiations and expressed concerns over personal freedom and consent.
The Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone has also previously investigated allegations involving the forced initiation of underage girls into the Bondo Society in Kenema District and referred to earlier commitments by traditional authorities against underage initiation and initiation without consent.
Such concerns tend to become particularly sensitive during festive periods, including December, when traditional ceremonies and initiations are held in some provincial communities. Rights campaigners have repeatedly argued that cultural traditions should be respected but must be practised in ways that protect children and recognize individual consent.
Sierra Leone’s Constitution protects freedom of assembly and association, stating that, except with a person’s consent, no individual should be hindered in enjoying that freedom. The Child Rights Act has also provided protections against subjecting children to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, including cultural practices harmful to their physical or mental welfare.
Rights advocates have consequently continued to call for stronger enforcement and decisive intervention by state institutions whenever allegations of forced initiation arise, regardless of the cultural or political sensitivities surrounding secret societies.
For Ansu Nyakeh Kamara’s relatives, the central concern in December 2025 was his safety. Family members and residents expressed uncertainty about his whereabouts after the reported escape and whether he could safely return home.
