Khaberni - Amid widespread shock in the Sierra Leone community, the "Eye on Africa" program sheds light on a secret network involved in the human organ trade linked to what is known as "juju" or black magic, suspected of being behind the killing of dozens of victims, including children, without holding the officials accountable.
Tragedy of an 11-year-old child
Sally Kalokoh, mother of 11-year-old Babayuo, recounts the details of his disappearance four years ago, saying, "They killed my child, and now silence prevails." His body was found with parts of his body missing, two weeks into the search, at the bottom of a well, revealing a painful family tragedy about the danger threatening children in the country.
Fear prevails in the community
BBC correspondent Tyson Conteh, from his hometown in Makeni, says: "The repetition of these crimes in Sierra Leone makes the residents live in constant fear, while the authorities are unable to investigate effectively due to lack of resources, as there is only one forensic doctor for the whole country." He adds that deep belief in magic increases the difficulty of pursuing these crimes, and they often remain unsolved.
Secret trade and political plans
The BBC team managed to meet individuals who claim to practice juju, who admitted their connection to broader networks that extend beyond the boundaries of Sierra Leone, including West Africa. One of them, known as "Kano," showed a human skull, indicating that it is part of their trade in magical rituals, which are alleged to be used to achieve power and wealth.
Kano added: "Even high-ranking leaders, when they want power, they come here, I give them what they want," confirming that the election season is the most dangerous time for children.
Traditional medicine between reality and reputation theft
Chico Tarawali, head of the Council of Traditional Healers in Sierra Leone, insists that these practitioners are damaging the reputation of traditional medicine, saying: "We are healers, not killers. Those who want money and power use human sacrifice." He points out that the majority of the population in Sierra Leone relies on traditional healers to treat common diseases, including mental health issues, making it more difficult to distinguish between legitimate practitioners and criminals.
Absence of official data
According to university lecturer Emmanuel Sarpong Owusu, ritualistic murders are not recorded separately in most African countries and are often misreported as accidents or natural deaths, making it difficult to combat this phenomenon, where about 90% of the perpetrators remain at large.
Involvement of the capital's suburbs
In the suburb of Waterloo in the capital Freetown, the BBC team discovered another supplier of human organs, who confirmed that he oversees a network comprising more than 250 assistants. He revealed their readiness to go out every night to look for victims, reflecting the size and ongoing activity of the organization.
