https://web.facebook.com/messenger_media/?thread_id=100012014989244&attachment_id=2893693780946140&message_id=mid.%24cAAAABsZ3tp6BPwF6w17Da1FA2Q6wVIDEO and still photo of the scene
Story written by Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
Reports coming from Jeadeapo Statutory District in Liberia’s southeastern Sinoe County say, a man in his late 40s only identified as Wesseh, has been subjected to traditional “Sassywood” practice—a trial by ordeal, which was banned by the Liberian government years ago.
This is a form of torture, which is a human rights violation under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Liberian law. And torture is defined as, the action or practice of inflicting severe pain or suffering on someone as a punishment or in order to force them to do or say something.””
The incident occurred last weekend (Saturday July 31, 2021), but the information has just emerged in the last two days.
From the video recording of the ordeal in the possession of www.newspublictrust.com, the man was taken in the middle of the town and surrounded by a huge crown and being mercilessly mad handled on that ground he is a witch.
In the video, Wesseh was placed near a little fire and they roosted plantain on the fire and left it hot and placed it under his arm and in his boxer and was told to remove it.
Victim Wesseh is seen in the video without clothes on him beside his boxer with two dead goats lying near him.
Traditionalists were also seen with group of cane tied together and putting it in the fire and using it to beat him on his body.
After using the cane, they later went for three eddo stalks and also beat on him with it, while another man was seen standing on his toes with rain boots and a second man was standing on his neck with his rain boots, as the victim wept saying. “I’m dying.
Police later moved in
The Liberia National Police crime service division has dispatched a team of Investigators to probe into the matter.
According to information from the district by some residents, Wesseh was last Friday, July 30, 2021 accused by traditionalists of being responsible for the deaths of two others, as well the disappearance of a teenager who went missing for over a week now. They took the action against the man after what they said was the conclusion from their traditional facts finding.
The Police say the alleged action carried out by the traditionalists, if established under the law, is worth charges ranging from aggravated assault and attempt to commit murder and will lead to court proceeding.
But victim Wesseh is still in the custody of the traditional people. And up till press time, the police have not dispatched and officers to where the incident occurred due to breakdown of their only vehicle, as where the incident occurred it is a hard-to-reach area.
Meanwhile, the chairperson of the National Traditional Council in Sinoe County, Chief Emmanuel Wesseh has strongly condemned the alleged action of his group members, describing it as unfair.
History of similar actions
Similar acts of trial by ordeal or mob justice have taken place in the southeastern Liberia in recent times.
Recently, a 41-year-old Nigerian national identified as Chuman Dennis was allegedly flogged by traditionalists on allegation of selling of narcotics substances in Joe village, Sinoe County.
Chuman Dennis was reportedly tied to a tree and flogged, and his ordeal is said to have lasted for some 24 hours before police intervention.
Records have proven that this is the third time an incident of traditional group brutalizing citizens in the county since 2020 November.
Last year, three women were stripped naked in Numopoh Kpanyan statutory district for alleged witchcraft activities, something that led to the death of one after being rape allegedly.
Another incident of such took place in Grigsby farm, Butaw district where a lady private part was set at blaze after being strapped naked for allegedly being engaged in ritualistic acts, locally referred to as “heart-man” activities.
Locals’ concerned
Some residents of Sinoe County have expressed concern about the mob justice practice being carried out by some traditionalists in the area. And they are recommending to the head of the National Traditional Council of Liberia as well the Internal Affairs Ministry to see the need for urgent intervention.
For his part, Sinoe County Superintendent Lee Nagbe Chea said the constant alleged involvement of traditional groups in brutalizing citizens under traditional canopy is unbecoming.
But he stressed that very such practice will be laid to rest.
Investigation continues into the matter.