By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
Reports from Wedabo District in Liberia’s southeastern Grand Kru County say some traditional leaders have again been subjected to torture, severely flogging and tying a 49-year-old woman and others over witchcraft allegations.
This happened recently after three Pastors and several others were victimized at separate locations in the county. Torture, which no human being should be subjected to, is a cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. is a serious human rights violation under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
Southeastern Liberia is becoming a hotbed for torture and trial by ordeal and a place of Jungle Justice. Although Sassywood, a trial by ordeal and all forms of tortured have been banned by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, yet still practices are widely carried out by people in the Southeast and other areas who act as lord unto themselves.
They are on record of always torturing people they believed are alleged witches. In September 2019, three men were slaughtered in the middle of the in Barrobo, Maryland County and in 2018, three women were stripped nacky and paraded over witchcraft allegation resulting to the death of one of the women who was secretly buried.
But one report says that twelve persons have now been arrested and detained at the Barclayville Police station.
They are currently undergoing police investigations for their allegedly imhumane act toward the 49-year-old woman, who they accused of witchcraft activities in Wedabo District.
According to the survivor, Bessie Karyepo, during police preliminary investigations that she and Ezekiel Wallance, age 60 were accused of practicing witchcraft activities by traditional leaders.
The survivors of tortured told police investigators that they were severely flogged and tie after been accused of Witchcraft with alleged instructions from the tribal authorities.
“After the town people accused us, they fined us goat, canejuice and the balance was rice, pepper and others which i was already in readiness to get before I was flogged and tied under the blazing sun,” Madam Karyepo told police investigators.
The incident reportedly took place in Kweliken town on Tuesday, September 8, 2020 in Wedabo District, electoral District #1.
Those arrested and undergoing police investigations are, Harris Tollah, Pearson sieh, Sackor Gray, prime suspects and eight other suspects.
It can be recalled that three Pastors of the Satiken Joint Christian Fellowship Church were severely flogged recently by some youths and elders of Parluken, Forpoh Statutory District in Grand Kru County for preaching salvation messages to citizens.
In July 2019, a 72-year-old woman, Madam Susannah Quire and a 45-year-old were physically assaulted in various forms, resulting into injuries in their private parts in Patty Garraway of electoral district #1 by an angry mob who accused them of being involved in witchcraft activities.
In May this year, a woman, 65 was accused of witchcraft in Gbeta Picnicess Administrative district, tortured and buried alive by the community youths in the area.
Several locals, including some local authorities have condemned the act and want Justice to be served without fear or favor to rely to rest the rapid increase mob violence and other forms of traditional justice system in Grand Kru.
Meanwhile, police investigations continues in beaten of the 49-year-old woman along with others.
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