Life threatening secret society in Sierra Leone(Poro Society) has led to the Death of many young men and has warranted Ismail Jalloh’s escape for his life.
Despite the much advocacy on the abandonment of secret society culminating into human right violations and signing of international treaties and conventions on human rights and other related human right laws in Sierra Leone and the world at large,a good number of villages and Towns still cling on traditional practices.
This has led to the death of a good number of Sierra Leonean youths while others have fled for their lives.
Ismail Jalloh is a typical example who is now running for his life. This young man was attacked in February 26, 2022, in one of the remote villages in Makeni Bombali district. Report alleged that unknown village youths belonging to the Poro secret society sent by the elders of the village, following Ishmail’s visit to his relatives in the village.
Information gathered reveal that Ismail Jalloh was in the village to see his relatives in the village. During his visit Ismail Jalloh was captured and taken to the Poro bush.
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 one of the boys died while they were performing the rituals. The situation led Ismail and one of his colleagues to flee the society bush at night using a nearby village to seek refuge.
Accordingly, Ismail has now been hunted by the society people, while his family are been blamed for his escape. The family is now under serious threat by the village elders and members of the Poro society.
Pa Kabia Sesay is one of the elders in the village noting that the death of one of the boys during the initiation warranted the escape of two of the young men including Ismail Jalloh.
This young man is now running for his life after escaping the wrath of the secret society.
It is also apparent that his escape from the shrine awaiting initiation has exacerbated his involvement into the secret society. For this reason, Ismail Jalloh’s life will always be at risk if he is seen or captured.
