Despite, the much advocacy on the abandonment of secret society culminating into human right violations and signing of international treaties and convention on human rights and other related human right laws in Sierra Leone, a good number of villages and towns still clinging on traditional practice.
This has led to the death of a good number of Sierra Leonean youths while others have fled for their lives.
Gibril Koroma is a typical example who is now running for his life. This young man was attacked sometimes in April 2023 in one of the remote part of Sierra Leone called Gbabaya village, Bonthe district. Report alleged that unknown village youths belonging to the Poro secret society sent by the elders of the village attacked him while he was resident in the village with his sick mum. Gibril Koroma was resident in the village as a bike rider to provide household help to his mother, especially when his mother was on sick bed in the village.
It was alleged that since Gibril Koroma father was a stakeholder for not only the township but also in the secret society bush before his death so as tradition demands, the elders were left with no option but forceful capture Gibril for initiation. It was expected that after the initiation, he must also take up the mantle in the society bush to proceed with his father’s legacy in the society bush. During the process it was reported that Gibril lost his left eye while trying to escape.
As tradition demands, any son of the soil is expected to be initiated into the male secret society. During the initiation, it was reported that Gibril Elder brother died while they were performing the rituals. The situation led Gibril Koroma and one of his colleagues to flee from the societal bush using a nearby village to seek refuge.
Accordingly, Gibril Koroma has now been hunted by the societal people, while his family are being blamed for his escape. The family is now under serious threat by the village elders and members of the Poro society.
Gilo Kabba is one of the elders in the village noting that the death of Gibril’s brother during the initiation warranted the escape of one of the young men including Gibril Koroma This young man is now running for his life after escaping the wrath of the secret society.
