POLICE DECLARES MARION NJAI WANTED FOR MURDER
It has become norms for Sierra Leoneans to involve in Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), society initions and other activities that international and local laws and practices frown at.
In recent times, an investigations conducted by this media ascertains that, a traditional Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) together with society initiations (Sowa) took place in a rural area named, Kalangba, Northern part of Sierra Leone where many female children were forcibly initiated and mutilated their female organs for the purpose of respecting traditions that are contrary to laws and practices. During the ceremony, many children lost their lives and some flee away, whilst they were trying to escape deaths; a fight broke out between the traditionalist and a victim named Marion Njai of 9 Wellington Johnson Street, Makani and the Decease, Famata Kalakoh. During the fight between the two, the suspect, Marion Had to forcefully and physically pushed the traditionalist who fell and sustained multiple injuries and the traditionalist was later taken to hospital, this physical push by the suspect against Famata Kalokoh, was for an intention to escape from the physical and forceful society initiation (sowa) of her person, and the injuries subsequently occasioned the death of the traditionalist, confirmed by the police report. Subsequent arrest was made by the police against the suspect. After the suspect was taken to police custody, legal procedures were followed to institute investigations by the police and a bail was granted to the suspect in recognizance of a reliable surety, said by the police to our investigating team.
After bail was granted to the suspect, it was indicated in the bail conditions that the suspect was to be reporting every day in the morning hours in respect to the conditions of the bail; immediately after the bail was granted, the suspect left the police custody and went home, but, after that fateful day she never returned to the police for a follow up in respect of the bail conditions given by the police.
After some days passed, it was reported that the Famata, the victim (traditionalist) died in the hospital as a results from the injuries she sustained from the feud that broke out between her and the suspect. As the investigation is ongoing, the suspect is nowhere to be found, reasonable efforts have been made by this media to reach the suspect, but all efforts turned to be fruitless. Family members, when contacted by this media to tell us the whereabouts and status of the suspect, they could not ascertain where she is now, neither do they know if she is alive.
In a follow-up investigation, it has been confirmed by the police that the victim’s remains had been buried whilst the suspect is on the run, and then further confirmed to us that the autopsy results indicated that the victim died from the injury sustained during the feud between the victim and the suspect. Therefore, the preliminary investigations of wounding with intent has been graduated to unlawful murder. When asked about the whereabouts of the suspect, they told us that they can’t see her neither ascertain the present locations of the her. This has made the police to issued out a warrant of arrest dated 24th October, 2022, declaring the suspect a fugitive and wanted person for murder and she is therefore, immediately and urgently needed by the police to further complete their investigations of murder and to charge to the competent court of law for the prosecution and proceeding of murder trials.
However, our investigation revealed that the surety who entered bail in recognizance on behalf of the suspect has been arrested and taken into custody, and it was established that the surety happens to be a relative to the suspect who is on the run. He is an uncle to the suspect, but since after his arrest for the purpose of him locating and producing the suspect for further questionings, completion of investigations and prosecuting, he has not been released neither granted bail.
As our investigation continues, we are yet to ascertain the whereabouts of the suspect. However, government is against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and forceful society initiations (Sowa) as they contravene human rights of its citizens and none citizens. This declaration of making them illegal is championed by the first lady of the republic of Sierra Leone.
