A young woman in the Goderich area of Western Freetown has reportedly gone into hiding for fear for her safety after facing violence, intimidation and threats to her life by drug dealers and users of the killer Kush drug in and around her community. This comes in the wake of her bold steps in advocating against the sale and the misuse of narcotic drugs in and around her community.
Florence Sankoh, a resident of Sesay Drive in Goderich, is said to have become increasingly vocal about the growing presence of a drug known locally as Kush. The rampant and seemingly uncontrollable sale and use of this drugs is having debilitating effects on the country’s youth population. Youths both make and female addicted to this narcotic drug behave like zombies in public and careless about self-care in terms of bathing and general hygiene. Most of its users result in developing sores that have proved to be incurable and which consequently becomes cancerous and has led to the deaths of hundreds across communities in the capital Freetown that inevitably includes Goderich-where Florence’s advocacy had been center-staged.
This unprecedented uncountable deaths of the country’s youth has raised concerns across communities in the capital.
According to individuals familiar with her situation, Sankoh had been advising young people to avoid the drug; warning them about its harmful effects and encouraging them to quit.
“She was trying to help the young ones stay away from trouble,” said a local resident who asked for anonymity, and added: “But in places like this, not everyone wants that kind of message.”
Tensions With Drug Networks:
Sources in the community say that her actions drew the attention of individuals believed to be involved in the import, sale and distribution of Kush.
Over time, the situation reportedly escalated. Witnesses claim that Sankoh was confronted and warned on several occasions by anonymous individuals, to stop interfering in what was described as “a business whose operation is bigger than her and her interest.”
In one reported incident, she and her partner were physically attacked by individuals suspected to be connected to the drug trade. Following this, she sustained injuries to actual bodily harm including wounds to her face. According to reports gathered in the Goderich community, Sankoh was warned directly to either stop what she was doing or she will face death.
“She was told clearly that if she continued speaking against them or if they saw her around again, they will kill her and her body will be difficult to trace,” a source close to the matter stated.
Investigations by this reporter have indicated that those threatening Sankoh’s life have the behind-the-scene protection by senior officers within the Sierra Leone’s security sector that are very difficult to be identified. It’s these developments may have left Florence Sankoh vulnerable and insecure thereby fearing for her life.
Domestic Abuse and Personal Risk:
At the same time, Sankoh is said to have been facing serious difficulties in her personal life.
People familiar with her situation report that she has experienced ongoing physical and verbal abuse from her husband. The abuse is said to have intensified after he discovered that she was involved in a bisexual relationship.
Following this, tensions within the household reportedly worsened, with increased aggression, threats, and hostilities directed at her by her husband and his family members.
A Dangerous Intersection of Risks:
Observers say Sankoh’s situation reflects a complex and dangerous overlap of issues.
On one hand, she is facing retaliation from individuals linked to the country’s drug cartel and in the other, she is dealing with domestic violence and the added vulnerability associated with her sexual orientation in a socially conservative environment.
In Sierra Leone, where same-sex relationships remain highly stigmatized, and criminalized, individuals perceived to be LGBTQ orientation can face discrimination, social exclusion, violence and in worse case scenarios, deaths.
Community members suggest that these combined factors have left Florence in an increasingly precarious situation to choose between life and death.
“She is not safe at home, and she is not safe outside. The system is such that even the state cannot guarantee her security and safety,” one lady familiar with her situation had commented.
Growing Concerns Over Kush:
The spread of Kush has become a growing issue in Freetown, particularly among young people. While many residents acknowledge the negative impact of the drug, few are willing to speak out publicly due to fear of retaliation.
Sankoh’s case highlights the risks faced by individuals who attempt to challenge such activities within their communities. For those safeguarding the drugs trade it is their source of making money and they don’t care whosoever it affects.
Fear and Uncertainty:
Those close to Sankoh say she has begun limiting her movements and avoiding public spaces where she could be easily identified by her unknown assailants.
There are concerns that without intervention, her situation could deteriorate further; and indications are that she cannot get that needed intervention now since she has been clearly identified as unsupportive of what is clearly a criminal enterprise.
Her case underscores the broader challenges faced by individuals confronting social issues such as drug abuse while also navigating personal vulnerability in environments where support systems may be unavailable in the face of drug money and influence.