By Prince J Musa in Kenema
Police at the Family Support Unit in Kenema are investigating a matter leading to the rape of two women (name withheld) and the physical assault of other women. The incidents were said to have taken place by a stream in an area contested by the villages of Baoma and Jopowahun in the Gaura Chiefdom, Kenema district, on the 16th February 2022.
Reports allege the attacks were carried out by a group of men from Jopowahun village in the same Gaura chiefdom Kenema district.
According to investigations, there has been a dispute between the towns of Baoma and Jopowahun over a piece of land and the matter had dragged on for more than two years now. The case was being investigated by the Senior District Office and the Provincial Secretary. One of the women who claimed to have been raped told Politico how on the 16th of February she was among a group of women that went fishing along a stream at a place called Kuduma.
She explained of them being first confronted by a man named Fatorma Lukuley who questioned the women for fishing in that stream. He was said to have threatened to call upon them some men and had hardly finished talking when some men appeared from the bush carrying machetes and rushed at the women. She said they were chased, overpowered, and mercilessly beaten by their assailants some of whom she was able to identify. She named Lukuley, Fodie Soaliho, Fodie Mansaray, and Nessie Moody all from Jopowahun village as some of their attackers.
Another woman claimed as they ran, they got chased by the men and she was caught, beaten up and her clothes torn. She claimed before she lost consciousness she saw one of their colleagues being raped as she begged to be spared.
Two other women who spoke to Politico corroborated the version of events narrated by the first two women. One of them said as they were being physically and sexually assaulted, Lukuley bragged “We will kill you in this bush, and nothing will come out of it”. They alleged they were subjected to waterboarding, even as they pleaded for mercy, saying they were innocent people.
The men left the other women but took one of them who explained of being forcefully placed on a motorbike even though she was in great pain, and was then brought to Joru Police where the men reported to the officers that she was one of those from Baoma caught fishing in their stream. She said the police told the men to take her to her village of Baoma but they instead drove her to Jopowahun.
According to this woman victim, one of the officers went to Jopowahun and asked why they refused to let her go, but they instead told the officer they would not release her until the men of Baoma go into war with them. The other seriously injured women after they were first taken to Joru were then placed in an ambulance and rushed to the Kenema Government hospital where they are presently admitted.
Some of the women said they lodged a report to the Baoma town chief but claimed she has shown no interest in the matter.
The Officer in Charge of Joru Police Post Momoh Gbessay Bockarie confirmed through telephone that two suspects have been arrested and will be taken to Kenema for further questioning. He also confirmed all the victims will have their statements taken by the police in Kenema.
The Paramount Chief of Gaura Chiefdom, Moses Sama Bunduka told Politico that he saw the alleged rape victims at the Government Hospital who told him they were indeed sexually molested by two men. PC Bunduka said, the chiefdom clerk at Joru has the document that will show areas where each village should work.
He condemned the action against the women of Baoma village but also stated the police some time back arrested people from Baoma and took them to police but were released with no action taken.
Copyright © 2022 Politico Online (23/02/22)
