PHOTO: The 13-year-old rape survivor
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
As many alleged rapists go free, many more children, especially girls are falling victim to rape and other sexual violence, with one of the latest happening in Liberia’s western Grand Cape Mount County.
Almost every day, rape cases are reported in the local media. In this county many months ago, another minor was raped and impregnated by a school teacher and the girl has given birth to a child resulting from that sexual abuse.
Now, another rape case has occurred involving a 13-year-old girl child, who was allegedly raped by a man, age 23 identified as Abu Kamara Swaray. The crime is said to have been committee on Nov. 28, 2021.
According to the survivor, she was trying to run away from Bamballah Town, Porkpa District in Grand Cape Mount County to her parents in VOA community in Montserrado County, when she asked Abu to take her to Tienii on his Motorbike and he agreed.
While coming on the bike, he stopped somewhere on the
road and asked her to come down from the bike and carried the bike off the road in the bush. On the other side of the road is a Cocoa farm where he allegedly took the survivor to a kitchen and no one was there when he allegedly abused her.
The farm kitchen where the alleged rape occurred
After allegedly committing the act, he still carried her to Tienii Town, Tewor District. But en route there, he is said to have threatened her that if she told anyone what had happened, he would harm her.
Upon their arrival at Tienii, Abu tried to arrange for vehicle to take the survivor to VOA in Montserrado County, when information of his alleged rape of the girl reached the Police at the Tienii Check Point.
The survivor was later taken to Damballa Health Center, Porkpa Dist on Nov. 29, 2021, for medical checkup and the result showed she was sexualy abused.
Abu Kamara Swaray was later arrested and placed behind bar at the Tienii Police station in Tewor District on Dec 1, 2021by the Liberia National Police (LNP) Women and children protection section. The police later announced that the alleged perpetrator , Abu has escaped from prison, but questions are being raised as to how it happened and the whole thing remains a mystery.
Bush cow disturbs Pokpah District
In another related development, residents of Kaweilahun community in Pokpah District Grand Cape Mount County are currently living in fear as the result of wild bush cow coming in town disturbing them, when they have been warned by the Forestry Development Authority not to kill them.
Explaining his ordeal, the assistant general town chief Foday Taweh said, it difficult for people to easily go their farms neither to go to a nearby creek to wash clothes due to fear of the bush cow.
According to Mr. Taweh, the farm is their only means of survival but the bush cow continues to eat their rice and cassava and the bush cow is now coming to town harm residents and if there is no quick intervention, they are likely to move from the town.
On the other hand some residents are also are calling on government and the Gola people to allow them fishing in the Mano River which is their only means of survival in that part of Liberia.
The residents said, they were prevented from fishing in the river on ground it is reserved and since their prevention, hardship has increased on them because the river used to serve as everything for them.