What began as an adventurous holiday to explore family roots in Sierra Leone descended into a desperate fight for survival for a 16-year-old Sierra Leonean, Joshua Osman Bangura is running for his life. Bangura was abducted and forcibly initiated into a powerful traditional Poro society, fearing for his life if returned to Sierra Leone.
Joshua arrived in the remote Kono District in December 2024, staying with distant relatives of his mother. According to his legal representatives and a detailed statement provided to authorities, Joshua was playing with friends who were Members of Poro society,the friends who used to play along with Joshua,these group of young men ambushed, physically subdued, and took Joshua to a secluded Poro society bush camp.”They took everything – my phone, my clothes, my identity,” “They said I belonged to them now. There were rituals, chanting, markings at the back of my body. They said if I spoke of it, or tried to leave the society, death would follow me and my family”he said with tears in his eyes. Poro societies are traditional, male secret societies prevalent in Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea.While many operate legitimately within cultural norms, there are certain chapters engaged in coercion, forced labour, and intimidation under the veil of tradition. Initiations are typically meant for local boys entering manhood.
The sixteen (16) year old Sierra Leonean, Joshua Osman Bangura is in fear of his life after forceful initiation into the poro society. Joshua who is afraid of his life is currently on the run in Europe for his safety. Individuals fleeing their home countries after being forcibly initiated into traditional secret societies, such as the Poro society have being an issue of the day particularly in Sierra Leone.
Joshua Osman Bangura was subjected to initiation rituals against his will, often under extreme social pressure, coercion, or even physical abduction. This initiation typically involves removal from their community for extended periods weeks or months. ’’I was forced to take part in the poro activities against my own will’’. he said.Victims most time Undergoing specific, often secretive ceremonies which has adverse effects in sometimes the health status of the victims like in the case of Joshua Osman Bangura, who at some point severely suffered from health condition due to his forceful initiation into the poro society back then in 2024.
Physical Markings, sometimes including scarification or other permanent bodily modifications at the back of your body has series of health implications on Joshua Osman Bangura. Joshua’s back is evidently seen with marks due to his forceful initiation in the poro society. In most cases, refusal to participate is seen as opposition to a powerful traditional structure controlling local politics and social order. There is also a Conflict between the Joshua’s deeply held religious or conscientious beliefs (e.g., Christianity, Islam, personal secular ethics) and the rituals/oaths demanded by the society.
Generally, Membership of a Particular Social group should be based on shared characteristics like individuals resisting forced initiation into Poro, victims of ritualistic coercion by traditional secret societies,” or individuals whose conscience conflicts with traditional society dictates. Joshua Osman Bangura is highly afraid to return for possible punishment if he returns, as it’s a believe that violating the sacred oaths of secrecy or disobedience can be punished severely, potentially including violence, ostracism, banishment, or even death. It’s also clear that Osman has lost Fundamental Freedoms of movement in his own country because of continuous subjection and harassment to the society’s control over personal life choices.
Several human rights report have frowned at the harassment of the people into the above mentioned society. ‘’People have been always forced and sometimes kill to join the poro society’’ Mohamed Kallon, a Human Right activist affirms. It’s now a matter of Cultural Sensitivity vs. Human Rights, Its essential that Adjudicators must navigate the delicate balance between respecting cultural traditions and upholding universal human rights (freedom of conscience, religion, bodily autonomy, freedom from coercion). The Sixteen Joshua Osman Bangura, the (16) year old is demonstrating a well-founded fear of harassment now or in the foreseeable future upon return, which is why he needs assistance for his safety.
These cases of forceful initiation in those secret societies highlight the tension between an individual’s fundamental rights and deeply rooted communal structures. For people like Joshua Osman Bangura who is genuinely facing the impossible choice between violating his core beliefs/autonomy under threat of severe harm or fleeing can be a vital protection for him.
Given the perpetrators’ local influence, Joshua is urgently seeking resettlement in a another country. “settlement within Sierra Leone is unsafe is not a viable solution,” Bangura stated firmly. “The risk here is too acute. I’m appealing to the international community for urgent protection.”
Local authorities in Kono District have been tight-lipped. A senior police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity says “Investigating the allegations regarding the missing of a sixteen (16) year old boy is ongoing,”. Traditional leaders in the region have declined to comment.
The safety of Joshua is all what is needed at this material time, help is an essential aspect for him, due to forced initiation into societies like Poro represents a unique path. It forces legal systems to confront the limits of cultural relativism when practices fundamentally violate individual human rights. While proving such claims is fraught with challenges related to evidence, credibility, and cultural context, the core principle remains: no one should face persecution, including severe societal coercion and the threat of dire consequences, for refusing to participate in rituals or societies that violate their fundamental freedoms of conscience, religion, or bodily autonomy. For those successfully navigating this arduous process like Joshua Osman Bangura, the sixteen years old Sierra Leonean, running for his life offers not just safety, but the restoration of personal sovereignty stolen by forced tradition. Joshua’s fate now rests on the often-slow and complex machinery of international human rights defenders , while the shadow of the Poro society’s threats looms large on Joshua Osman Bangura.