By Karifa Thoronka
Based on various reports of increased of forceful initiation into secret societies across the country, Fadugu in Koinadugu District, is on the spotlight as man found dead close to the Bush of the Bangbani Secret Society.
According to reports, a man was passing by and saw a body lying on the ground. To his curiosity, he found the man dead. He went to the chief to report the matter which subsequently led to the police coming to the scene. The body was later identified as Pa Wurie Jalloh, who is a farmer and a cattle rearer, who lived in Fadugu, who was missing over a year ago.
Consequently, this press embarked to ascertain the veracity of this claim. Speaking to the late man’s wife, Isatu Jalloh, she said “my husband and his elder son, Alpha Jalloh, went to kassasie in the middle of June 2019 to clear a plot of land which he has rented for two planting seasons to do harvesting. However, they could not return. My husband’s brothers and I made various reports to the chief and the police but our searched were fruitless and to no avail
“Investigations gather from community members pointing fingers at the Gbangbani Secret Society.
A farmer, whose name could not be mention, said he saw the incident from far when Pa Wurie and his son are trying to put off a fire when some men in half dresses and well arm with cutlasses came and kidnapped them. The farmer believed these men belong to the Gbangbani Secret Society.
Before going to the press, the police were asked about the incident. They said, the issue is under investigation. Therefore, they cannot give further details.
From further investigations, we found out that the son of the deceased, Alpha Jalloh escaped during the initiation ceremony, whiles Members of the secret society are on hunt for him as its their law for any person who trespassed into their bush knowingly or unknowingly should become a member as it is obligatory because the person must have possessed some of the powers of the secret society.
Secret societies have been the bedrock of development for some communities in Sierra Leone as they think. Initiation rites for boys involving ritual scarring during retreats in “sacred woods” that can last for several months. In such process, initiates drink blood and face lot of inhuman treatments.
Politicians and state actors have used these societies to their advantages to gain “steady vote”, they always turn blind eye, and their activities go unpunished. The community is worried if their cry will be heard as an innocent soul has been laid to rest.
However, though concern have been raised by civil society organizations over the rampart invasion of secret societies into towns and districts right across the country, the government is still unable to handle the situation as most of the government authorities are alleged to be members of the said secret societies who themselves have been used to protect and cover their evil deeds.
Some among the government authorities have also been accused of taking undue advantage of their secret society to commits acts of ritual murder and that many a time there have been reported cases of dead bodies discovered with missing parts. The ‘Gbangbani Secret Society’, it is believed has part of its traditions to tear and disfigure human flesh, which they usually used as part of their sacrifice.
Therefore, the 1945 Universal Declaration of the United Nations Convention on the Rights to life and Movement is not followed to the latter, as there are reported cases of such forceful initiation in the country.
