28 Poro members charged with murder

Police in Tappita, Nimba County have charged 28 members of a traditional school or Poro society in Zuoplay Town with murder.

According to the police charged sheet, the suspects allegedly mobbed to death a 33-year-old man, Samuel Mansuo, recently in the county.

Doe Administrative District Commissioner, Sam Napah Wehyee, narrated to The NewDawn that the late Samuel Mansuo was arrested by members of the Poro society and asked to produce his son, who is said to be on the run.

The Poro members allegedly held the deceased for over six hours, demanding him to show the whereabouts of his son, whom they had earlier fined for breaching their sacred rules.

Commissioner Wehyee said after the late Mansou failed to produce his son, he was severely flogged by his captives and released, but subsequently died. The incident is said to have created panic among residents of Zuoplay Town, lower Nimba.

The NewDawn Nimba correspondent said that since the outbreak of the Ebola virus, traditional or cultural practices in Nimba are being upheld as usual despite an order from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, suspending both Poro and Sande activities throughout the country.

Traditional leaders in the county are reportedly not adhering to the mandate from the Internal Affairs Ministry as school-age children are being forced  into the society bush commonly known here as “Bush School” by parents. Some parents are said to have relocated to other communities where this practice is not prevalent with their children, a university student from Monrovia told this paper.

“My brother, some of us want to go to school, but this traditional practice is affecting our lives. Man like me should be working by now but due to this thing we have gone nowhere in education.”