By Ibrahim Karim Bangura (Tanko)
Intelligences reaching Africa-24 Newspaper, Sierra Leone have indicated that there is a manhunt for Fatima Jalloh, by members of the country’s most authoritative ‘Bondo’ secret society that led to her missing, since May 7th 2024 to date.
The hunt for Fatima, formally of N0. 9 Fullah Street Lumpa Waterloo and also pupil of Pitab Pre Primary school Waterloo as at is said to have amplified following her alleged illegal entry into the female ‘Bondo’ secret society bush in Tissina village, Western Rural, Distric of the Republic of Sierra Leone.
According to trustworthy sources, this medium gathered that Fatima’s was not in the intention of entering such taboo place by teenager, but her intention focus was to
asked for her Mother Isha Turay whom she normally stay with together and was allegedly forcefully taken into the secret society for initiation after refusing to replace her late mother as Sowie, a senior ladder in ‘bondo’ society as tradition demands.
Custom dicates that at the demise of the head, automatically the eldest daughter succeed her mother but family sources disclosed that, Isha opposed the idea to replacing her late mother, an action that angered ‘Bondo’ society members which they regarded as disrespect and violation of their traditional belief.
Owing to Fatima’s (Mother) rejection to accept the demand warranted, youth from both ‘bondo society’ and ‘community’ people to descend on her to take her to ‘bondo’ bush for initiation in fulfillment of the tradition.
However, the eleven (11) years old Fatima Jalloh who out rightly opposed to the request given his background as a devout Muslim, was severely beaten and injured in the process when she attempted to resist.
It is a horror in Sierra Leone for one to enter either the female ‘Bondo’ society bush or the male ‘Poro’ society bush if you’re not a member, and it’s a crime punishable by forceful initiation or harsher punishment, sometimes death, in case of refusal.
Thus Fatima’s attempt to see her mother from the ‘Bondo’ bush was seen by members of both secret societies as blatant disregard to their culture and tradition, hence the need to hunt her down for her action.
Few hours after the incident, exactly at midnight on that fateful day, according to report, the headman instructed the youth to capture Fatima and family immediately. For
forcefully and unlawfully entering in the; bondo’ bush without any authorization, Fatima was accused of committing an offensive crime which requires countless consequences.
During the course of our investigation, we discovered that when these society members found out that both Fatima and her mother have run-away, they immediately chased them to Freetown where they suspected both might be hiding in a nearby friend resident in the capital.
A neighbor spoke to this medium that these desperate society people robbed the Fatima’s mother’s home and threatened to come back and deal with both Fatima and her family. Both Fatima and her mom Isha Turay have been wanted for violation and disobedience.
This medium also discovered that Fatima’s mother was told that anytime they see her
daughter and Aunty Kadiatu Kamara they will torture them to death for violating their tradition and her mother Isha’s refusal to assume her late mother’s role as ‘Sowie.’
Hearsay report indicated that both Fatima Jalloh and Mother were facing tough challenges following their escape as they experienced frequent thief attacks, arrest and detention and intimidation.
Fatima’s fate is said to be bleak as she could not think of returning home. As we went to press ‘Bondo’ society people are in desperate search for Fatima’s and aunty by harassing family members who they accused of aiding and abetting their escape. Despite the prompt official complains made at the Waterloo police station couple with a contact number +23288299335 presently issued out to the public by some relatives of Fatima Jalloh in order to locate their missing kid. If seen?