Excerpt of the letter reads: “I wish to write and confirm that Mohamed M. Barrie currently residing in the United State of America (USA) is a member of NAFUCA – SL and the National Coordinator of the UNESCO Association for Culture and Education – Sierra Leone. He was a member of the St. Edward Secondary School UNESCO Club and on graduation from high school, he later joined the UNESCO Association in 2008 where he has risen to the position of National Coordinator.”

The letter went on to state that in March 2014, Barrie was assaulted and severely injured and his face and entire body disfigured by a group of people who happen to belong to secret societies.

This attack, the letter stated took place in Brookfield, Freetown in collaboration with the secret societies in his home town of Tongo Field in eastern Sierra Leone.

According to the letter, Barrie has always been an opposition of the activities of secret societies countrywide. As a result of the constant problem, Barrie was forced to go to the Republic of Guinea for safety and medication hoping that with time, tensions will die down and he will be safe to return and resume his work as National Coordinator.

“On returning to Sierra Leone in January 2015, he resumed duty unaware of the trouble awaiting him. In the same January 2015, he was attacked and severely beaten by unknown men. He sustained major injuries all over his body and had to spend some time in hospital,” stated the letter.

The said letter was written by the President of NACAFU-SL, Ibrahim Foday Bokum.

The far reaching negative effect of secret societies in Africa has become a grave concern to many, particularly human rights organizations who have argued that the act is a violation of the rights of people.

NACAFU-SL now joins other organizations to condemn this practice as according to the organisation’s President, it is not in the best interest of the victims.