By Mohamed Fofanah (Fofie)

Osman Kamara has on the 16th November, 2023 escaped narrowly from the hands of Senior “Poro” Society members in his home town Tonkolili District, Sierra Leone. The “Poro Society” is one of the dangerous male secret societies in Sierra Leone, and many teenagers and young adults have died in cold blood during initiation processes.  Any initiate that dies in Poro Society Bush will be buried in the deep forest and his family will never see a sign of his shadow.

In an interview with one of the members of the Poro Secret Society, Bai Sheku Koroma, he said that “Osman’s father, Alimamy Kamara, was a senior and active member of the Poro Secret Society. It is a norm that the first son of any senior member of the Poro Secret Society should inherit his father’s crown in the Poro kingdom. Since the death of his father, the mother of Osman Kamara, Abie Tarawally, has been adamant that her only son will not join the Poro Society. The Senior Poro members have met the family members to speak with Osman and his mother. Disappointingly, Osman Kamara ran away to an unknown destination, but he will face severe consequences for his actions. It will be better for him not to step his legs into this land because he will experience hell on planet Earth.”

Speaking with Osman Kamara’s mother, Abie Tarawally, she told Africa 24 Communications Newspaper that: “Since 2023, my son has gone through a lot in the hands of the Poro men. He has undergone bone surgery in his right leg and he is not strong enough to undergo the deadly ceremony of the Poro Secret Society.” “Senior members of the Poro secret society have been putting unbearable pressure on my son in order to join the Poro Society in the name of maintaining his father’s legacy and linage in the Poro Secret Society. For him to undergo such a ceremony in mid-forest for a six months period, medically it is not safe to the side of my only son, Osman. Currently, my son is nowhere to be found,” she cried.

The wife of Osman Kamara, Abieoseh Kabia explained her ordeals to the press, “I was shocked when I heard strange voices at our compound that night. I was breastfeeding my baby when I heard loud sound at the main door towards the parlor, and I woke up my husband. He had no option but to jump thought the window and he accidentally broke his right leg. I am now left aimless and helpless with my new born baby. I am struggling to survive to cater for my child and I. Now, my husband is on the run. The Poro society has turned me into a partial widow,” she wiped with emotions.

In an exclusive interview with one of the human rights activists in Sierra Leone, John Kelly Marrah, he stated that one morning on Tuesday 18th November, 2023 he received a call from Osman Kamara that he was under serious threat from Poro Secret Society members in Tonkolili District his home town. He narrated the story to me and I personally made some follow up, but I realized that Osman Kamara accidentally broke his right leg while he was trying to escape from the Poro Society men.

According to Osman, he affirmed with medical evidence that he had bone surgery in Sierra Leone. This is completely human rights violation. Many stories have been reported about Poro Secret Society threatening young people lives if they failed to be part of them. I am urgently calling on the government to step up and create sophisticated awareness in order to free our youths from this diabolic menace.”

He also added that Osman’s mother has contacted the nearby Police Station in Tonkolili and Central Police Station in the capital, Freetown and the matter is under investigation. According to police reports in 2023, eight juveniles’ boys died in the Poro Bush during initiation ceremony in the Tonkolili District, and the elders in the community kept it under the carpet.

In a telephone interview with Osman Kamara, he said that: “It was my worst night since I was born. During my escape, I broke my right leg when jumped through the window from a tall building. Since then, I had undergone multiple surgeries in Sierra Leone. This unseen incident forced me to forcefully leave the country and there is no room for me to get back home due to death threats and humiliations I have received from the Poro Society and the community members.”

He further confirmed to this medium that he had pictures and physical evidence of his injuries he sustained in his leg and the surgeries he had undergone in the capital of Sierra Leone, Freetown.

Inspector Momoh Sesay, the crime officer of Tonkolili Police Station said that the police are seriously investigating the matter. Currently, few of the Poro men had been brought into custody. The problem it is very difficult to identify members associated with Poro activities. There is a strong spiritual tendency centered on its initiation processes. It is part of their culture, but the police are interested in the security of the lives of people of Tonkolili District. We have given them strong warning to stop threatening the lives of innocent youths. He further condemned the actions of the Poro men. We have received the medical reports which stated that Osman Kamara broke his right leg from the devilish attack by the Poro men, but he is yet to appear to the police to give his own side of the story. Inspector Momoh Sesay also cleared to the Poro men that it’s completely against the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone. He cited Section 24 sub section 4 of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone which says “No person shall be compelled to take any oath which is contrary to his belief or religion.”

Conclusively, Poro Secret Society has done more harm than good in Sierra Leone. Human rights violations are in common practice in that part of the country Tonkolili District. The nation has lost hundreds of teenagers and youths in the Poro Bush. From an informed perspective, most of the top politicians are seasoned members of the Poro society because of spiritual power to pursue political goals.