- Khalifa Daboh current location is unknown, sparking concern and distress among those who knew him. As a dedicated human rights youth leader in Sierra Leone, Khalifa fearlessly advocated for various rights issues through his popular radio program ‘Know U Rights’ in Kenema, eastern Sierra Leone. However, his decision to address the harmful practices of the secretive ‘poro’ society in one of his broadcasts resulted in a series of tragic events that changed his life forever.
Following the revelation on his program, Khalifa family home was attacked and set on fire, leading to the brutal assault of his brother and mother. Threats against Khalifa life emerged, causing him to disappear without a trace for over two years. The silence surrounding his disappearance was accompanied by chilling reports of violence and repression linked to the ‘poro’ secret society, intensifying concerns for Khalifa safety and well-being.
Khalifa story highlights the risks faced by human rights defenders like him who bravely speak out against injustices. His family remains in anguish, yearning for answers about his fate as they endure the ongoing uncertainty. It is imperative for the international community to acknowledge and address the dangers encountered by rights advocates like Khalifa, who put their lives on the line to expose critical human rights issues.
It was reported in January 2019 that a secret society in Sierra Leone unleashed a violent rampage in protest against a new ban on initiation rites, resulting in tragic loss of life. Members from this society defied the ban and launched an attack on tisour village, near Kenema, where they besieged the local police station and released detainees. The assailants harassed peaceful villagers, sang Poro songs, and ransacked homes, forcing residents to seek refuge.
Poro societies, prevalent in Sierra Leone, conduct initiation ceremonies for boys that involve ritual scarification and extended retreats in designated “sacred woods.” The ban on these practices was instated following clashes near a site claimed by the agricultural company, Socfin. The tensions resulted in two casualties and injuries to a police officer, prompting an official investigation.
In a separate incident, members of a secret society abducted nine individuals who were en route to work for the mining company, Sierra Rutile, in Moriba. Despite the ban, a Poro society member in Kenema insisted on proceeding with their initiation rites, citing tradition.
Additionally, young girls in the region undergo the Bondo ritual, a female counterpart to Poro initiation, which includes female genital mutilation (FGM), a condemned practice prohibited by many nations and deemed hazardous by the World Health Organisation. Sierra Leone has notably high rates of FGM globally.