By Osman Turay
Paramount Chief Alie Koblo Queen Kabia II of Marampa Chiefdom has reportedly declared two young men wanted over allegations relating to homosexuality, sparking mixed reactions among residents and human rights advocates in Lunsar Town, Marampa Chiefdom, Port Loko District.The two men, identified as Abass Kargbo and Ishmael kamara, are currently reported to be at large after allegedly fleeing their community when they were reportedly caught engaging in a homosexual act.According to community sources, tensions escalated after rumors about the relationship spread across Lunsar Town and neighboring villages, leading to public condemnation from some members of the community. Others have called for drastic action against the two men for engaging in what they described as a โsatanic act.โSpeaking to this medium, Isata Kargbo, the elder sister of Abass Kargbo, explained that her brother and Ishmael kamara had been close friends since 2014 when they attended the same school in Lunsar.โIn 2015, I started hearing rumors that they were involved in something against the traditions and religion of this chiefdom, but I did not pay attention to it until they were caught,โ she said.According to Isata her brother has a Girlfriend and a child, which made her initially believe the rumors about him being gay were false.She further disclosed that Abass was allegedly exposed by his girlfriend Christiana kahina after she complained that he no longer had time for her and became suspicious of his behaviour.Isata stated that while Ishmael kamara managed to escape, her brother was captured and taken to the Paramount Chief, where he was detained for some time before reportedly escaping from custody.Frank G. Conteh, Youth Leader of Marampa Chiefdom, strongly condemned the alleged act and vowed that efforts would be made to capture the two men and return them to the chiefdom to face punishment.According to conteh, if the Paramount Chief had handed Abass Kargbo over to the youths, they would have set him ablaze for allegedly engaging in such an act.Meanwhile, the Paramount Chief, while addressing local elders and youth groups, reportedly described homosexuality as being against the customs and traditions of the chiefdom. He warned that any behaviour perceived to undermine cultural values would not be tolerated.Local authorities have not confirmed whether any formal criminal charges have been filed against the two men, and their whereabouts remain unknown at the time of publication.The incident has reignited national debate over the balance between cultural traditions, human rights, and personal freedoms in society. Although homosexuality remains illegal in Sierra Leone, human rights advocates continue to raise concerns about violence, discrimination, and abuse faced by people accused of engaging in same-sex relationships.
Many individuals accused of homosexuality in Sierra Leone have reportedly suffered beatings, torture, discrimination, life imprisonment and in some cases, loss of life.
