…While Fiancé is Accused of Murder
Freetown, June 16th Monday 2024- Relatives of Abibatu Mansaray a young woman in her twenties has been forced to flee her village of Makosseh, in the Port Loko District, Northern Sierra Leone after attempts were made to forcefully initiate her into the Bondo secret society (Female Genital Mutilation).
The young women who escape Makosseh Village in 2024, is nowhere to be seen as search for her continues. According to report, Abibatu Mansaray was about to be taken to the Bondo society bush for initiation when her fiancé intervene leading to a fight. This was after her mother had died who was a member of the Bondo secret society.
After the burial of the mother, members of the Bondo secret society visited the house and demanded for Abibatu to be initiated so that she will take the place of her Mother.
While the Bondo women were preparing for the rituals, Abibatu decided not to obey the call. With this development, Abibatu’s fiancé Alhaji Mansaray came to the house and demanded that they let go off his wife to be.
During the scuffle, according to eye witness, Alhaji Mansaray used a stick to hit one of the societal women who immediately fell to the ground with a fatal wound.
The Societal Woman hit on the head was later pronounced dead sparking outrage within the small village of Makosseh.
How did Abibatu and her fiancé Alhaji Mansaray manage to escape the village when news broke out about the death of the societal woman is still a mystery, but report say during the confusion the two escape through the aid of friends using the nearby bushes.
A close friend of Abibatu also informed this medium that the latter was defiant to be part of the Bondo society believing that most young girls who go through Bondo or Female Genital Mutilation, do not survive. In Sierra Leone in general and Port Loko district in particular, it is difficult to see grown up women who are not part of the Bondo secret society. It is also impossible to be a traditional chief or a member of parliament without going through a secret society.
Report also suggest that Alhaji Mansaray and his Fiancé also escape with a huge amount of money, and that the money is from Alhaji Mansaray’s office that was meant to be deposited in the bank.
The actual amount is unknown but it is believed the amount is around One Hundred Thousand New Leones.
Alhaji Mansaray is currently wanted by the police accused of murder and stealing.
In Sierra Leone, it is widely believed that people can be forcefully conscripted in a secret society without any court action due to the fact that 50 to 55 % of the population are members of various secret societies.
There are reports that Abibatu Mansaray and Alhaji Mansaray are not dead but made their way to an unknown destination just like some other girls who were threatened by traditional society members.
In general, every member of a secret society must also make sure that their children go through the Bondo Society or Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). This is done to maintain the tradition as generations yet unborn are expected to follow the same trend.
Meanwhile, any persons whose name is on the list to be enrolled into the secret society have no option but to accept or abandon their village or community for a lifetime.
One cannot seek redress in any court of law under the traditional law. Like female genital mutilation which is common among women in most parts of Africa, the Poro secret society for men is the replica. Just like the manner in which young boys are forcefully conscripted into the Poro society is no exception.
Most young girls continue to suffer from the Bondo secret society for women who conduct female genital mutilation despite international efforts to eliminate this act. The whereabouts of Abibatu and Alhaji is still unknown as not even relatives or friends could
