By Garmah Never Lomo,garmahlomo@gmail.com
Three men recently became victims of a trial by ordeal and were executed after being subjected to mob/jungle justice in the town of Barrobo, Maryland County in southeastern Liberia and citizens are calling on the government to put a stop to this practice.
Trial by ordeal is a violation of Liberian law but it has been going on in some areas around the country through “Sassywood” ever since the practice was banned many years ago.
Reports from Rock town, Barrobo District said the three persons including the town chief have been brutally murdered for allegedly openly confessing that they were witchcraft on Monday, September 2, 2019.
According to the report gathered, the three persons include Isaac Weah Saydee, David Nugbo and Issac Gortoe whose ages are yet to be identified.
The late Town Chief along with the two others persons, were accused of being involved in alleged witchcraft activities in the District, something which the three accused had admitted that indeed they were witchcraft and even planned to kill the 14 persons who allegedly killed them.
The 14 persons are John Tweh, age 49; Moses Chea, age 50; Sam Gbaquire, age 42; Chea Karmunue, age 49, Dargbo Toe, age 50; David Weah, age 33 and Cyrus Doe age 35.
Others are Toeson Hinneh, Jacob Doe, Prince Doe,and Amos Barway and Vasco Weah.
Among the 14 persons who allegedly killed the three men six are on the run and those on the run are Jacob Doe, Prince Doe, Vasco Weah, Dargbo Toe and Amos Barway are currently on the run.
They disclosed that after the open confession the three men in Rock town Barrobo District, Maryland County, the 14 mentioned above took the three men in the middle of the town and used cutlasses to chop them on their Necks, thus leaving the flesh only holding on their shoulder.
The victims were slaughtered and arranged, including the town chief who is elderly man..
What seems to the order of the day in handling alleged witchcraft activities is trial by ordeal in southeastern Liberia.
This trial by ordeal has led to the deaths of several persons around Liberia, specifically southwestern Liberia.
It can be recalled that in Grand Kru county recently, a 72 years old woman and her 45 years old beaten, stick inserted in her private part.
The citizens said trial by ordeal has taken over the country, thus causing several people to lose their lives, even though justice can sometimes be served but it is not enough at all.
Citizens are therefore calling on Internal Affairs Minister to educate traditional people on how to avoid killing people who may be alleged of witchcraft activities.
They also questioned those who brutally murder alleged witchcraft activities. They ask: on what method or yard stick can be used to determine Witchcraft or how they determine a witchcraft?