By Samuel Kay.
Reliable information gathered reveal that the Bickersteth family are in danger, her husband and kids suffered in the hands of the Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) leaders for failing to comply with their cruel dictate.
Before the death of her mother, who was the traditional head of the (Sowei) secret society commonly called Bondo society at a village known as Gbinti, Lokomasama Chiefdom- Port Loko district, intimated her family members that her eldest daughter, Christiana Bickersteth must be the next traditional head- Sowei.
Christiana was forcefully taken to the sacred society bush to be initiated first into the Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), Bondo society before being crowned the next head of the Sowei.
However, information reached her husband- Chrispin Olubumi Reynolds Bickersteth, that the Sowei has taken his wife to the Sowei bush, he have to rushed to the society bush to rescue his dearest wife on the grounds of their strong Christian faith and that they are not ready to compromise it with any evil traditional custom. He met stiff resistance, but he succeeded in taking her out after burning the bush he referred to as the evil forest.
As they ran home to collect their children who had returned from school, it was unfortunate to know that only two of them were seen and the other two had not reach home yet. It was also updated that the secret society women called on the secret society Men to form a joint force, ensuring that they destroy the family of Christiana and Chrispin. Two of the kids were collected and left a message to their immediate neighbors related to the other two children.
The neighbours in turn helped them to clandestinely snatch the other two kids upon their return from school and took them but unfortunately their parents had left to an unknown location due to uncontrollable pressure mounted on them.
They able to find their way out to unknown destination, after that clumsy incident occurred. They left that deadly scene on 22nd January 2022. On their way out of the township to seek refuge, reliable sources disclosed that their house had been put ablaze but they did not relent from pursuing their live-saving trip.
The Sierra Leone Police are also searching for them for burning the society bush, as a formal complaint had reached them. The Bondo society women went on the rampage to Gbinti village, Lokomasama Chiefdom harassing quite a good number of innocent people in search of the couple who had gravely embarrassed their custom and tradition.
It was also captured that the other two kids they left behind whilst escaping for their safety were targeted by the society people, the
Police who rescue the kids from the society people and took them to their custody. However, the whereabouts of the couple and the two kids they flee with is still unknown.
Christiana with her family, were desperately searched for by those secret society women who had traveled all the way to a strange land which was not disclosed, on hearing that they had gone in search of them.
Christiana and her family, waisted no time to leave for another unknown destination on Saturday 22nd January 2022, upon sensing a treacherous all- out attack” Averse the community people. According to the investigation revealed that, the people of Gbinti village, Lokomasama Chiefdom were left in mixed feelings as to whether Christiana, Chrispin and family survived the heat or they were caught and killed during the process of running for their lives. According to the investigation revealed that, the people of Gbinti village, Lokomasama Chiefdom were left in mixed feelings as to whether Christiana, Chrispin and family survived the heat or they were caught and killed during the process of running for their lives.e caught and killed during the process of running for their lives
