Sierra Leone – A BBC Africa Eye investigation has uncovered the grim reality of ritual killings in Sierra Leone, with families left devastated by murders believed to be connected to the trade in human body parts for black magic rituals. The report highlights the struggles of families seeking justice and the difficulties authorities face in investigating such crimes.
One such case is that of 11-year-old Papayo Kalokoh, who was murdered in 2019. His body was found mutilated, with parts removed, including vital organs. His mother, Sallay Kalokoh, has been haunted by the lack of justice, as police failed to investigate the murder as a possible ritual killing. “Today I’m in pain. They killed my child and now there is just silence,” she told BBC Africa Eye, reflecting the widespread feeling of helplessness among those affected by these crimes.
Papayo’s death is not an isolated incident. Over the years, numerous killings have been linked to juju, a form of black magic that some believe can provide power and prosperity through human sacrifices. But the country’s severely under-resourced police force, with only one pathologist for a population of 8.9 million people, often struggles to gather the evidence needed to pursue these cases.
The investigation also uncovered two self-identified juju practitioners who claimed to be part of a larger network that trades in human body parts. They revealed that their clients included powerful individuals across West Africa, including politicians. One of the practitioners, Kanu, spoke about his secret shrine in Kambia district, where he provided body parts for rituals. “We have our team. Sometimes during election time, at night, this place is full of people,” he said, referring to the high demand for sacrifices during political seasons.
Sierra Leone’s deeply ingrained belief in witchcraft complicates efforts to investigate such cases. Many police officers share these beliefs, making them hesitant to confront rogue herbalists and juju practitioners. Sheku Tarawallie, president of Sierra Leone’s Council of Traditional Healers, distanced legitimate healers from those involved in ritual killings. “We are healers, we are not killers,” he said, stressing that the actions of a few individuals are damaging the reputation of the traditional medicine community.
The exact scale of ritual killings in Sierra Leone remains unclear, as many of these deaths are misclassified or go unreported. Emmanuel Sarpong Owusu, a researcher at Aberystwyth University, pointed out that such murders are often not recorded as a distinct category of homicide, making it difficult to track the extent of the problem.
In the course of the investigation, BBC Africa Eye also discovered a suspect named Idara in Freetown who claimed to be part of a network with up to 250 herbalists working under him. He explained how his collaborators captured victims for ritual killings, with one of them even sending a voice message to say they were prepared to go out every night in search of a new victim.
Idara’s arrest, along with two others, followed a raid coordinated by local police and traditional healers. During the raid, human bones, hair, and other evidence were found, leading to charges under Sierra Leone’s anti-witchcraft laws. The investigation into Idara and his network is ongoing, but it remains uncertain whether justice will be fully served.
For the families of victims like Papayo and Fatmata Conteh, the road to justice is fraught with obstacles. Fatmata, a 28-year-old hairdresser and mother of two, was murdered earlier this year in Makeni. Her body was found with missing teeth, leading to suspicions of a ritual killing. Despite her family paying for an autopsy, the cause of death remained inconclusive, and no arrests have been made.
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