Barely four months following the escape of Issa Kalokoh from arrest and initiation into the ‘Poro’ society against his wish; credible reports reaching Africa24 disclosed that stakeholders of this society have vowed to leave no stone unturned but to sacrifice him to the ‘evil gods’ for blatantly rejecting ancestral tradition that has stood for ages.
According to reports, Issa Kalokoh escaped forceful arrest and initiation into the ‘Poro’ secret society with the timely intervention of one of his friends following the death and shroud burial of his father in a ‘Poro’ bush at Makari village, Bombali district, northern province of Sierra Leone.
Our sources disclosed that Issa’s father had a sudden heart attack on April 16, 2022 and soon after, it was suggested by some family members to take him to hospital; but being a senior member of the ‘Poro’ secret society, one of his brothers, Issa’s uncle rebuffed the suggestion and insisted on taking him to the ‘Poro’ bush instead as their secret society ‘laws’ demand.
According to report monitored by Africa24, Issa’s uncle told family members that any time a member of their society falls ill, that person should be taken to the society bush to consult their ‘gods’, for traditional healing.
However, reports added that some family members rebuffed the idea.
Africa24 newspaper was reliably informed that in the early hours of 17th April, 2022, Issa received the sad news from one of the society members by the name of Mohamed S. Kanu who was sent to inform the family that his father had passed away in the bush and that he was to be buried there as the ‘laws’ dictate.
Our sources went on that Issa and his family never saw their father again not even his corpse to convince them that he was indeed dead.
However, a couple of days later on April 24th, 2022, our sources further informed us that Mohamed S. Kanu who was assigned to inform the family about the late man’s demise, was again sent this time to inform Issa that the ‘Poro’ members wanted to see him in the bush, but details was not made known to him.
During the course of our investigation, Africa24 discovered that Issa initially accepted to avail himself, but later on changed his mind.
Africa24 find out that Issa became confused as to why he was suddenly invited after his father’s suspicious death.
Report further stated that, it was at this juncture Issa informed his mother about this development.
His mother, close sources said, vehemently discouraged him not to venture honouring the request. Based on the discussion they had, Issa our source went on immediately left Makari village to find refuge elsewhere albeit hurriedly.
The report added that Issa became frightened and reportedly found his way through a bush path until he got to the main road leading to the regional capital of Makeni.
Upon arrival In Makeni, Africa24 was informed that Issa wasted no time to narrate his sad predicament to a close friend exactly what happened to him at Makari village.
Fearing that his life could be in grave danger, confirmed reports disclosed to Africa 24 that Issa’s had to flee with the aid of his friend to an unknown location in order to save his precious life otherwise he should be ready to pay the high price of being sacrificed to the ‘Poro’ evil ‘gods’ due to his refusal to attend to the summoning of the ‘Poro’ stakeholders who wanted to force him into initiation against his wish.
In Sierra Leone, government doesn’t meddle into the affairs of secret societies.