Members of the secret ‘Poro’ male society are in desperate search for a Sierra Leonean father of three, Bai Bangura who was forcefully conscripted into the ‘poro’ shrine against his will; despite assurance by his late father to stakeholders that his eldest son would eventually succeed him after his passing.
According to tradition and norms of the ‘poro’ society, a successor is proclaimed effective immediately at the death of the substantive holder. Tradition demands that the predecessor’s eldest son eventually becomes the heir after a ceremony of initiation is held by senior stakeholders at the shrine.
Africa24 newspaper gathered during the our course of investigation, that Bai Bangura whose late father, Saidu Bangura had long assured stakeholders that his son, Bai is the apparent successor as the head of the ‘poro’ society when he dies.
During our in-depth investigation, Africa24 newspaper discovered that Bai Bangura is married to Hulaymatu Bangura with three children namely Adama, Isatu and Mohamed Bangura and Bai’s mother is called Marie Kamara and they hailed from a village in Kambia district; Rolal few miles after Mangeh Bureh village.
Africa24 further discovered that Bai was never aware about the agreement made by his deceased father with senior ‘poro’ stakeholders to succeed him.
Again, we also found out that, Bai was not in the fore knowledge of a secret ploy to initiate him until he was forcefully conscripted into the shrine by senior ‘poro’ stakeholders in order to replacing his deceased father as head.
According to credible sources, after Bai was forced into the shrine he came to the realization that he had been taken to the wrong place. The ceremony sources confided to Africa24 newspaper was to have taken place at night.
Reports further confirmed to Africa24 newspaper that prior to the commencement of the ceremony proper, senior stakeholders were left bemused when they could no longer find Bai as he made an unexpected escape.
Intelligent report monitored by Africa 24 newspaper revealed that, following Bai’s escape that left ‘poro’ stakeholders in shock and awe they decided to deploy members countrywide in order to search for Bai.
Senior ‘poro’ stakeholders alleged that, Bai may have the tendency to expose their inner core secrets which he had seen to non-members. This, they stated, is what aggrieved them most as it is considered as a taboo, for anyone who had refused to be a member to make public.
The ‘poro’ society is purely a male dominated secret society and government doesn’t interfere into their activities. Reports also stated that these ‘poro’ stakeholders have vowed to eliminate Bai Bangura for his refusal to replace his deceased father.