Dwelling houses of nonmembers were raided and items looted with others forcefully taken away to be initiated even though there has been campaign against forceful initiation as it violates the rights and liberties of people. Reports have it that the belongings of those nonmembers especially members of other tribes like Fullah, Limba , Mandingo among others are being the target of these local society men.
A nineteen year old young man Ibrahim Barrie resident of 20 Nyallay Street Kenema is among those said to have suffered from what many now call outdated culture. He was captured but after some serious struggle he escaped for his life and till date no one knows his location.
The said Ibrahim Barrie according investigation was on that fateful evening returning to his Simbeck section residence when he came across strange group of young men who tried to take him to an unknown location with hope of initiating him into the male Poro Society. Being that he does not want to be a member by virtue of his religious and family background, fought way and disappeared into thin air till this date.
Members of the society have been sending death threat messages to his family. They allege that Ibrahim Barrie is wanted dead or alive so that he can’t be allowed to speak publicly against the society.
Many youth have decided to either join the secret societies or leave the area as nonmembers have subjected to serious degrading and human rights violations. Other have also lost their lives during initiation processes.
Sometimes in 2017 a young Opposition All Peoples Congress APC Party member one Tiameh was murdered in the outskirt of Kenema for refusing to join the Poro society. He died of injuries sustained during a scuffle between him and the society initiates who had wanted to force him join them.
The matter was reported at the Kenema Police Station and arrests made and matter charged to court.
Over seven people have been standing trial for murder at the Kenema High Court.
This medium has also gathered that father of Ibrahim Barrie died months after he decided to join the said society. He was forced to join after persistent harassment and intimidation within the community. Unfortunately, after the initiation Pa Barrie came sick and died of the illness he returned with from the society bush.
This said sad story could run through the minds of his son Ibrahim Barrie to leave the jurisdiction as the only means to save his life.