In a harrowing incident that has shocked the Kissy Dockyard community, 22-year-old Tenneh Koroma, of 135 King George Avenue, was gang-raped by three unknown men while attempting to escape a forced initiation into a traditional society.

The assault occurred along Shell Old Road at approximately 11:50 PM on April 10, 2023. The men reportedly attacked Tenneh as she sought refuge after being pressured to undergo initiation following the death of her grandmother, a former head of the Sowei society.

Forced Tradition and Desperation The tragic sequence of events began earlier in February 2023, when Tenneh’s grandmother passed away.

According to local tradition, the Sowei society, a secretive women’s group responsible for cultural rites, demanded that Tenneh replace her grandmother as a member.

Initially, Tenneh accepted their request out of fear, as refusal could lead to immediate capture and forced initiation.The initiation was set for April 30, but Tenneh, seeking an escape, reported the matter to the police on April 10.

Unfortunately, her plea for help was met with indifference.

“The police told me that this is part of our tradition and they could not intervene,” Tenneh explained.

Desperate, she fled to Freetown to seek safety with her father. However, that same night, her escape took a tragic turn when she was ambushed and assaulted by three unknown men along Shell Old Road.

Tenneh was found unconscious after the attack, bearing the marks of extreme violence. According to medical reports from the hospital where she was treated, she suffered multiple bruises on her neck and right foot, a swollen left arm, and a brutally removed incisor tooth.

Her upper lip was also swollen, and there was evidence of vaginal bleeding and a swollen vulva. Although no fractures were identified, the trauma she endured was severe.Cultural Pressure and Threats Following her recovery from the assault, Tenneh confided in her father about her ordeal and her refusal to undergo initiation into the Sowei society.

To her dismay, her father expressed that it was part of their family tradition, the same fate her mother had faced when she was younger. Despite her father’s acceptance of the situation, Tenneh feared for her life.In her village, the Sowei leader, the head of the society, had vowed to sacrifice Tenneh if she ever returned.

Tenneh’s refusal to be initiated has placed her in grave danger, as tradition dictates that all female members of her family must join the society. Her grandmother had been the head of the society, and her refusal to step into that role has put her at odds with the powerful cultural institution.

The incident raises alarming concerns about the safety and rights of women in communities where traditional practices conflict with individual freedom.

While Tenneh has managed to flee Sierra Leone and seek refuge in Liberia, the question remains: how many more young women will face the same terrifying choice between forced initiation and the threat of death?

As Tenneh struggles to rebuild her life away from her home, her story serves as a reminder of the dangers that many women face in secret societies, where tradition and violence often intertwine.