Secret Society Hunts Osman Maddie
Even though the two dominated religions books both the Holy Bible and Quran condemn the practices of secret societies in Sierra Leone but yet still there are some elements in this society who are not willing and ready to comply to such request of the holy books and that the most recent one was the ‘Poro’ Society which led to the disappeared of Osman Maddie from his native land.
A hunt has been launched in the entire Bombali District for Osman Maddie who they alleged has refused to be initiated into the traditional ‘poro’ secret society as an obligation to assume the mantle of leadership as elder son of Abdul Conteh (father) who was the traditional leader of the poro secret society.
The ‘poro’ secret society is predominantly being practices among men in the South and Northern part of Sierra Leone where young boys even within tender age are force to be initiated into the society. Unfortunately for Osman Maddie step father Abdul Conteh happen to be section Chief of a village and automatically senior member of the ‘poro’ secret society.
Being the son of the chief who is the custodian of the tradition of the village, Osman is supposed to take the mantle of leadership from his father and automatically become one of the leaders of the society
According to his father it is an abomination and complete shame and embarrassment for Osman to refuse being initiated into the poro society, adding, “I am the chief and custodian of the traditional society, for my first son to refuse joining the society means that the thrown would be taken from me and will cause serious problem to the family”.
Osman is not the only young man that is facing intimidation in his village many young men who have acquired western education and refused to be initiated into the poro society, have left the village and currently in constant hiding for fear of being reprimanded by local authorities in that part of the country.
It could be recalled that Osman Maddie was born in 1997 in Normaseidu Chiefdom Kono District by Pa Amadu Maddie who was brutally murdered during eleven years rebel war in Sierra Leone and his wife who happens to be the biological mother of Osman Maddie, was pregnant by then and was captured as hostage for several months.
Madam Isatu later gave birth to Osman Maddie in the jungle but she was unable to bear the labor pain and she died but fortunately Osman Maddie survived and thereafter the rebel handed over Osman Maddie to one Isatu who was also rebel captive and she was released to take care of Osman Maddie. According sources madam Isatu and Osman migrated to Makeni in the Bombali District, and later married to one Mr Abdul Conteh a section Chief whom Osman known as his father today.
The said Mr Abdul married three wives including Osman’s mother and also has two daughters but did not has a son, as result, he considered Osman Maddie has his first biological son and they were living in Makeni but later Osman moved to the Capital city (Freetown).
During the Ebola era and sometime in March 2016, Osman’s mother died and he decided to travel to Makeni to witness the funeral and according to eye witness, Osman was inside his bed room during the night hours, when his step father plot with seven men to initiate him into the poro secret society. Sources disclosed to this medium that Osman father and the men rushed at him in the said room but luckily he held a knife which he used to stab two of the men and unfortunately one of the men died, the other was seriously damage and that he decided to escape on the same night.
This ugly incident led to the traditional authority and police place Osman wanted.
The sources further that after the incident Osman moved to the city where he was harassed and has no option but to escape for his life to unknown destination, adding that before Osman escaped, he told him that he would never go to his village because the traditional authorities have accused him of committing an abomination for his refusal to be initiated into the poro society.
Osman Maddie life is currently under threat and he could be seriously tortured if found because his father is in total support of his initiation as a custodian of the secret society.
While government through the international community, has passed a moratorium for girls below age 18 not to be initiated into the Bondo Secret society commonly practiced by women there is no law that prohibit the practice of poro society in Sierra Leone.
According to sources at Normaseidu chiefdom some young men have died during the initiation process, which involves severe torture, and nothing comes out of such act because it is an accepted norm in their community and no investigation is taken for such act.
A hunt has been launched in the entire Bombali District for Osman Maddie who they alleged has refused to be initiated into the traditional ‘poro’ secret society as an obligation to assume the mantle of leadership as elder son of Abdul Conteh (father) who was the traditional leader of the poro secret society.
Being the son of the chief who is the custodian of the tradition of the village, Osman is supposed to take the mantle of leadership from his father and automatically become one of the leaders of the society
According to his father it is an abomination and complete shame and embarrassment for Osman to refuse being initiated into the poro society, adding, “I am the chief and custodian of the traditional society, for my first son to refuse joining the society means that the thrown would be taken from me and will cause serious problem to the family”.
Osman is not the only young man that is facing intimidation in his village many young men who have acquired western education and refused to be initiated into the poro society, have left the village and currently in constant hiding for fear of being reprimanded by local authorities in that part of the country.
It could be recalled that Osman Maddie was born in 1997 in Normaseidu Chiefdom Kono District by Pa Amadu Maddie who was brutally murdered during eleven years rebel war in Sierra Leone and his wife who happens to be the biological mother of Osman Maddie, was pregnant by then and was captured as hostage for several months.
Madam Isatu later gave birth to Osman Maddie in the jungle but she was unable to bear the labor pain and she died but fortunately Osman Maddie survived and thereafter the rebel handed over Osman Maddie to one Isatu who was also rebel captive and she was released to take care of Osman Maddie. According sources madam Isatu and Osman migrated to Makeni in the Bombali District, and later married to one Mr Abdul Conteh a section Chief whom Osman known as his father today.
The said Mr Abdul married three wives including Osman’s mother and also has two daughters but did not has a son, as result, he considered Osman Maddie has his first biological son and they were living in Makeni but later Osman moved to the Capital city (Freetown).
During the Ebola era and sometime in March 2016, Osman’s mother died and he decided to travel to Makeni to witness the funeral and according to eye witness, Osman was inside his bed room during the night hours, when his step father plot with seven men to initiate him into the poro secret society. Sources disclosed to this medium that Osman father and the men rushed at him in the said room but luckily he held a knife which he used to stab two of the men and unfortunately one of the men died, the other was seriously damage and that he decided to escape on the same night.
This ugly incident led to the traditional authority and police place Osman wanted.
The sources further that after the incident Osman moved to the city where he was harassed and has no option but to escape for his life to unknown destination, adding that before Osman escaped, he told him that he would never go to his village because the traditional authorities have accused him of committing an abomination for his refusal to be initiated into the poro society.
Osman Maddie life is currently under threat and he could be seriously tortured if found because his father is in total support of his initiation as a custodian of the secret society.
While government through the international community, has passed a moratorium for girls below age 18 not to be initiated into the Bondo Secret society commonly practiced by women there is no law that prohibit the practice of poro society in Sierra Leone.
According to sources at Normaseidu chiefdom some young men have died during the initiation process, which involves severe torture, and nothing comes out of such act because it is an accepted norm in their community and no investigation is taken for such act.
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