By Abdulrahman Kamara
According to reports from Bumpeh Chiefdom in the Bo District, one David Lansana, the son of Henry Lansana. And heir to the throne of the secret Society in the chiefdom narrowly escaped death from his captors, as he refused to be initiated into the society due to his faith, as a Christian.
According to family sources, throne in the secret society is hereditary and David is to ascend the throne after his father’s death. It was also disclosed that his grandfather, before his death, had declared that after the death of David’s father, his son should replace him.
After the death of his father, senior members of the secret society approached David and tried to convince him to take his father’s position in the society as an inheritance, but he refused. One fateful day, it was disclosed that they physically came to take him away, during which a serious struggle ensued, resulting in heavy beating by the crowd of society young and energetic men. David is said to have fallen unconscious and was taken to the society bush (Shrine) for initiation, when he recovers.
Our sources further explained that whilst in the shrine, an uncle of David (name withheld for security reasons), and also a member of the society escaped with David who was then unable to walk, and took him to a nearby village where he was being treated. After recovery, David decided to venture out of the streets in the village and was attacked by two young men, who were members of the secret society from his village and were in the area on other venture. These youths then told him that they will take him to their shrine and will call for help if it reaches that stage. During the fracas that ensued, David hit one of the youths with a strong stick, and he collapsed, apparently unconscious, and the other fled for help.
According to our investigations, it was further disclosed that t5he same Uncle called David shortly after that incident enquiring about his whereabouts, and advised him to leave the village and that his life is in danger. It was also disclosed that David was intimated by close friend of the traditional healer with whom he was staying and who helped him recover his walk, that the Police are looking for him, as there are indications that the youth he had hit with the stick was in a state of coma and he was now wanted by the police. Amidst this situation, David is said to have disappeared and his whereabouts are still unknown.
As we go to press, all efforts to reach the young man has proved futile, as no one has been able to tell us where he is, except that he is wanted by the police and that the secret society has sworn to capture him and teach him a lesson of his life. It is common knowledge that since those in authority are members of one secret society or the other little is being done to deal with such threats and a refusal to adhere to the dictates of the society is death.
