By Ralph Sesay
Joseph Maligie Sesay a Sierra Leonean in his early thirties is in trouble with his traditional secret society the ‘Poro’ in a town village called Mile 91, Yoni Chiefdom, Tonkolili District Northern Sierra Leone.
It will recalled that, the area is very much notorious for the conscription of youths into their traditional societies and most times the local Police in the area had to deal with incidences of brutality and other wounding related issues in the event that youths are conscripted into these secret societies.
Joseph according to some relatives and elders of Mile 91 town met his ordeal on the 20th October, 2016. It was reported that as a truck driver he just came back home in the evening at about 1700 hrs at when by two Chiefdom Police Officers came to his house and invited him to the local chief’s residence within the same town.
Sources further stated that, he went with the Police Officers and they later arrived at the residence of the local Chief. Upon arrival he met all the traditional secret societies heads at the Chief’s compound in a very tense mood with all their traditional regalias.
He was according to our source, instructed by the local Chief to follow these traditional secret society people to the sacred bush noting that he has an issue to settle with them.Joseph refused to follow these traditional secret society heads against the backdrop that he is not a member of the secret societies in question.
The decision of the secret society to invite Joseph and make him the head of the traditional secret society according to sources was informed on the basis that Joseph’s father who happens to be the spiritual head of the muslim sect in the village (Chief imam) was very much critical about the secret society and that most of his preaching to his congregation during prayers was highly critical of the secret society.
His refusal according to an eye witness was followed by a very strong force from the members of the traditional society.He was physically carried by force to the nearby bush where he was offered fresh blood to drink as a way of committing himself as the new head of the secret society in the area.
The eye witness continued that, Joseph fought very vigorously and refused to drink the blood which he took and splashed on the face of one of his attackers. As the struggle ensues, Joseph also grabbed the knife they were holding and stabbed the leader of the team in his stomach all in his defence.
His action to stab one of the members of the secret society was met with very strong action as Joseph was later mercilessly beaten to coma and one of his arms damaged.As he lay helpless at the area all the secret society members fled the area leaving him in coma.
Joseph managed to escape when he later regain his health and managed to travel through the nearby bushes until when he came across a friend who rescued him after narrating his ordeal.They both travelled through the highway across to the border on the side of the Republic of Guinea with a view to finally escape from the area.
The traditional society later learnt that Joseph had died in the secret bush where he was mercilessly beaten to coma.The youths who are also active members of the group decided as a way avenging the actions of Joseph later decided to physically attack and vandalise his residence inflicting injuries to his father, his wives younger sister and drivers mate. All three were killed in the attack.Other families members were also wounded, his wife raped and his vehicle was also burnt down beyond repairs.
Sources very close to the traditional secret society the ‘Poro’ in Mile 91 Town have vowed to rearrest Joseph and bring him before the elders of the Poro Society for refusing to honour the title of head of the society which was given to him by the elders and also by stabbing one of the senior most member of the secret society.
The where about of Joseph remains however unknown to the family and the members of the traditional society.
In Mile 91 Town, Northern Sierra Leone… Traditional Secret Society Declares Joseph Malige Sesay Wanted
