Secret Society Declares Aminata Koroma Wanted

Reports from the village of Masuba, in the northern town of Makeni, Bombali District, reveal that one Aminata Koroma has been declared wanted by the dreaded female secret society, ‘Bondo’, on allegation of sacrilege. It was confirmed by members of the society that all affiliate bodies of the society across the country have been put on high alert and are looking for her.

According to sources, Aminata Koroma is said to have been chosen to replace her late mother, Emma Koroma, as Chief Priest (Sowie) of the society, a revered position in the secret society, but had vehemently refused, citing her religious beliefs as being against such babaric traditional practices.

According to sources, on the night after the burial ceremony, elders ofthe secret society, in the company of other young ladies, then surfacedat the family house under the pretext of expressing sympathy for theloss of her mother, and in the process, grabbed Aminata, blindfoldedher and took her away into the secret society shrine in the bush. Eye witnesses disclosed that Aminata Koroma was severely beaten, as shetried to resist the abduction.

Our very close and reliable source disclosed that while in the shrineawaiting preparation, Aminata was tied to a tree, and left under thewatchful eyes of an old woman to take care of her. Aminata.is said tohave escaped after requesting that she wanted to defecate. She wasthen untied and escorted by the woman to a nearby stream, as it issacrilege to defecate in the vicinity of the society shrine.

Aminata Koroma is said to have then been able to make good herescape after pushing the old woman into the stream. As an alarm wasraised by the old woman, the other members pursued Aminata, but shewas far ahead of them and disappeared into the fog of the night in thebush.

Family members and neighbors explained that they got to know aboutAminata’s escape when the society members came looking for her.The members say that Aminata Koroma should be found at all cost, asshe has desecrated their society shrine. It is common knowledge thatno one sees what obtains in a secret society shrine and is allowed toleave, especially when that individual is not a member. They are oftenbrutally initiated, leading to loss of life.

According to a close friend in whom Aminata Koroma hadconfided, and who spoke to this medium on basis of anonimity,Aminata had explained to her that there has been a number ofuntold deaths from bleeding, as a result of such initiation rites,and a sense of impunity has been the order over such deaths,with traditional and political leaders turning a blind eye, writingoff such deaths as the sign of impurity before the Gods, and theflimsy excuse given was that the victims were devoured by thedeity.

Our source furthered that under such circumstances, reports of this nature are left in the hands of the traditional rulers, and is a taboo to be discussed by non-initiates. She furthered that members of the secret society raided her house looking for Aminata, as it was known that they were very close friends, and even threatened her with death if she is hiding her.

Family sources say that since 20th April 2023, when Aminata Koroma was taken away into the secret society shrine, she has not returned home and her whereabouts are unknown. They expressed apprehension over the frequent visits to their residence of members of the secret society, issuing threats of death against them.

It was further revealed that affiliate bodies of the secret society across the country have been alerted to apprehend and bring Aminata Koroma to face punishment, and a nationwide search has been declared. As we go to press, the whereabouts of Aminata Koroma are still unknown.