Reports from Levuma village filtering into Africa24 newspaper have intimated that one Michael Mynard Coker has gone missing after he made a miraculous escape at the hands of ‘Gban Gbani’ members who wanted to kill him; following his refusal to succeed his late father as head and efforts to know his whereabouts has proven unproductive.
According to sources, Michael Mynard Coker grew up in a strong Islamic family. His parents, grandparents and ancestors were all practicing Islam.
Report from Levuma village said that Michael’s father was the Headman of the most powerful traditional society called ‘Gban gbani’, the headman is a hereditary title that is passed on from one ancestor to another.
It is also reported that Michael was to succeed his father as the next Headman of the ‘Gban gbani’ society being that he is the only son and heir due to the death of his elder brother.
Sometime in 2021, sources confirmed that Michael was persuaded by a group of Christians while they were preaching the Gospel at his village in Levuma.
These Christians preached to him about the ills of joining any occultism secret society and how sinful and evil it is to be a part of such demonic society.
Prior to his conversion as a Christian, a Levuma resident told Africa24 newspaper that Michael was very well aware that to be part of such devilish society was not good as he knew the ramifications of the evils of ‘Gban gbani’ society.
A close family source indicated that Michael’s father was angry with him for converting to Christianity and therefore rained invectives and swore him.
The family source added that Michael father was aging and fell ill so he used that time to cajole him to succeed him as the next heir to the Headman title. Continuing, the source went on that Michael turned down his father’s proposal of belonging to any secret cult and informed him that he has surrendered his life to Jesus Christ and is now a Christian by faith.
A source in the village told Africa24 newspaper that Michael’s father reportedly told him that if he dare refused to become the Headman he (Michael) will be killed by ‘Gban Gbani’ members.
Due to his stance not to succumb to his father’s, an indigene at Levuma village narrated to this medium that Michael alongside his wife and children were driven away from the residence and went on to reside in the next village. His father was informed that Michael was living in the next village which was just a stone throw from Levuma village.
When Michael’s father passed away his remains were not interred as his corpse was collected by members of the ‘Gban gbani’ and no one ever knew where they took the corpse. The source added that stakeholders of the society summoned a meeting where they imposed it on Michael to take the Headman tittle but rejected their proposal.
The appalling thing is that membership of these secret societies cut across the country and anyone who dare defies their order can be apprehended anywhere within Sierra Leone to face severe consequences for disobedient action.
Narrating, an eye witness in the village disclosed that though Michael was fortunate to have escaped from his assailants when he was attacked, his son was reportedly killed in the process. Also his pregnant wife suffered miscarriage due to the ill treatment meted on her.
The eye witness further narrated to Africa24 newspaper that Michael was lucky to have gotten a clue about plans to possibly kill him. It was this person that admonished him to find a safe haven otherwise he will be a dead man.
Report further revealed that ‘Gban Gbani’ members later on went to Michael’s residence, but he was nowhere to be found, however his Landlord and wife were stabbed to death.
When it became obvious that his life was in serious danger, Michael sources say had to flee to an undisclosed location.
Africa24 newspaper can confirm that ‘Gban Gbani’ members have vowed not to rest until they apprehend Michael to face the bitter consequences for his refusal to replace his deceased father as headman of the ‘Gban Gbani’ society.
They considered his action as an affront and tantamount to death a situation that has never happened before.