PHOTO: The latest victim of jungle justice in Grand Kru County
By Garmah Never Lomo,garmahlomo@gmail.com
Jungle justice has raised its ugly head again in southeastern Liberia leading to yet another brutal death.
Leveling of allegations of witchcraft against people, leading to trial by ordeal, “Sassywood” forcing confession in Southeastern Liberia, has become the order of the day, in which lives are lost through ritualistic means.
Reports from Pinicess, Gbeta Administrative District in Grand Kru County say four persons again have been victimized from this form of jungle Justice through the practice of Sassywood, which is officially banned in Liberia.
As a result, one female is left dead, after she was allegedly tortured severely over witchcraft allegation, violating her fundamental right to clear her name through a court of competent jurisdiction under the country’s law. A person is considered innocent until proven guilty, according to the constitution. And in fact, torture is strictly prohibited both under Liberian law and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
According to the reports from Gbeta Administrative District, Josephine Bartu, Patricia Nimley Juah, Isaac Weah and Comfort Wleh were escorted to an Island known as River Jolobe on allegation by the youths of the district in Pinicess. The youths claimed that young people usually died mysteriously in the area without any accountability.
This followed the death a 25-year-old man only identified as Handful, who recently died in Solobu on Sunday April 26, 2020. But according to medical report, he died from severe malaria.
It is reported that when youths of Gbeta Administrative District were escorting the corpse of Handful for burial, his casket allegedly hit two houses in the area. After the deceased coffin hit the houses, youths accused the owners of the houses of being responsible for the death of their colleague.
The reports further said that after the burial of Handful, the President of the District youths, Lawrence Teah Doe and his group came back and forcibly took away Comfort Wleh, Patricia Nimley Juah, Isaac Weah and Josephine Bartu across River Jolobe, which is about ten mile away from the town. They were reportedly tied to trees and mercilessly beaten, after which Patricia Nimley Juah was allegedly killed and secretly buried in the bush.
The other three, who were severely beaten, were left to die, but they managed to bear the wounds and make their way to their town alive.
“Only we the young people dying in Pinicess, for what reason we have constantly reported this situation to local authorities but to no avail. So the young people of the community decided to revenge,” the youth President,” Lawrence Teah Doe said.
The Pinicess Gbeta Administrative District President, Doe admitted to the Liberia National Police investigators that they mercilessly beat Patricia Nimley Juah, linking Paramount Chief Nagbe Wesseh.
News of the jungle Justice act emerged over the weekend after massive search was launched by community dwellers and police in the area.
Patricia Nimley Juah, who brutally killed and secretly buried, had her remains exhumed by police and a 15-member Corina Jury, who examined the body and concluded that there foul play.
The terrible situation has claimed claimed the attention of the Ministry of Justice which has called on the victims’ family and locals to remain calm, as Justice will be served.
Meanwhile, Police have arrested and investigated four persons, who are shortly expected to be forwarded to 12th Judicial Circuit Court for trial in Grand Kru County’s capital, Barclayville.
They were charged for multiple crimes, ranging from Murder, Aggravated assault, Criminal Attempt to Commit Murder, Criminal facilitation, Criminal Conspiracy and Solicitation.
Those arrested are Lawrence Teah Doe, youth President, age 32; Paramount Chief Nagbe Wesseh, age 55; Koffa Fannieh age 26; and Dixon Fannieh while the rest are on the run.
On September 3 of 2019, three men including a Town Chief in Rock town community in Barrobo, Maryland County were killed in the Middle of the town on allegation of being a Witchcraft.
Later on December 12,2019, three women were raped, an object inserted in their private parts, fire placed on their skin and one who was three months old pregnant was killed, stripped naked and paraded in Johnny Town, Sinoe County. But the convicts were sentenced to 45 years Imprisonment at the Second Judicial Circuit Court in Grand Bassa County.
In July of last year, a 72-year-old woman and her 45-year-old son were severely tortured, where stick was inserted in her private part mercilessly beaten. Hot Cutlass was placed on her son’s penis for his refusal to have sexual intercourse with his mother over witchcraft allegation in Galaway Administrative District. Grand Kru County. But six persons were sent to court and said matter is pending before the court.
Following that inhumane act by some locals, two fishermen went missing in February of this year and they are yet to be found, while a 75-year-old Commissioner also went missing in May of 2018 in the same Pinicess, Grand Kru County. He is has not been found so far.
Also, several children and others have been victimized, leaving to some of them death over allegation of witchcraft.
The biggest question remains is: what is the Ministry of Internal Affairs doing to educate locals and traditional leaders to stop taking away lives of others over witchcraft allegation? And what is it doing to educate the locals that Sassywood is illegal in Liberia and that this act of trial by ordeal was banned many years ago?