By Fatmata Jengbe
The Koroma family is in a state of distress following the mysterious disappearance of 18-year-old Johnson Amadu Koroma. Johnson narrowly escaped from traditional secret society initiators who were preparing him for the final stages of chieftaincy ceremonies, which would have confirmed him as Chief Pa Kaprie Sawyer IV, succeeding his late father, Chief Pa Kaprie Sawyer III.
Johnson Amadu Koroma, the only identified successor to his father’s chieftaincy, belongs to a paramount ruling house. His mother, Madam Isatu Tarawalie, recounted a series of harrowing events starting on May 15, 2021, when ceremonial chiefs demanded her husband’s discharge from the hospital to a secret shrine under the pretense of aiding his recovery. She revealed that her late husband, like his father before him, was taken by these ceremonial chiefs and later announced dead, a loss that devastated the family.
On July 1, 2022, Johnson was reportedly abducted by individuals in traditional robes from his late father’s supermarket. Mohamed Bangura, a friend of Johnson, disclosed that after searching for Johnson, they discovered he had been taken to a ceremonial bush in Patebana. On August 10, 2022, Johnson’s friends launched a daring rescue mission, overpowering the guard and burning down the secret shrine in the process. They fled with Johnson, who was later found by Pastor Michael in a dire condition.
Pastor Michael, in an exclusive interview, detailed how he helped Johnson and his friends escape to Guinea after learning of their ordeal. Despite their efforts to remain hidden, threats persisted, and Johnson eventually disappeared again to avoid being forcefully taken back to the village.
The ceremonial Chief Pa Musum defended the coronation process, claiming it was agreed upon by the family and community elders after a series of meetings with both groups. He also described the disruption caused by Johnson’s friends, who allegedly threatened to kill the societal guard and burned down the ceremonial bush after they departed for the city on August 10, 2022, which was a demonstration day.
In an exclusive interview with Alusine Tarawaralie, a family member of Johnson Amadu, he explained why they decided to conduct a forceful coronation and command the ceremonial chief to proceed with the coronation. Tarawaralie mentioned that after a series of meetings with community members and the family, they agreed to go ahead with the coronation.
Patebana tradition dictates that a fugitive who evades societal rites is deemed a traitor, punishable by death, with their body mutilated and sacrificed to appease evil spirits. The Koroma family and community members have been unable to locate Johnson, and all attempts to reach him have failed.
Currently, Johnson is wanted by the police, who have offered a reward for any information regarding the whereabouts of Johnson and his associates.
The whereabouts of Johnson Amadu Koroma remain unknown, and the Koroma family continues to seek answers. Meanwhile, the police have declared Johnson and his friends, Augustine Joel and Prince Raty Jalloh, wanted for arson related to the burning of the secret shrine.
The community awaits further developments as the search for Johnson and the resolution of this complex cultural and legal situation continues.
