In the dusty streets of Makeni, northern Sierra Leone, 50-year-old Sallay Kalokoh still weeps for her 11-year-old son Papayo, murdered four years ago and dumped at the bottom of a well—his eyes, vital organs, and one arm removed in a suspected “ritual killing” for black-magic charms that promise wealth and power. “Today I’m in pain. They killed my child and now there is just silence,” she told BBC Africa Eye. Papayo is one of hundreds—possibly thousands—whose deaths are linked to an underground trade in human body parts, fuelled by deep-rooted belief in juju (witchcraft) and a justice system too under-resourced and superstitious to act. With only one pathologist for 8.9 million people and 90% of cases unsolved (expert estimates), the killers operate with near impunity.
A six-month BBC Africa Eye investigation went undercover and found two self-confessed “juju men” openly offering to supply fresh human parts—one claiming a network of 250 herbalists across West Africa, the other playing voice messages from accomplices ready to “go out every night” to kidnap victims. When one boasted he had a target lined up, the BBC tipped off police, leading to a dramatic raid in Waterloo, Freetown’s notorious crime suburb, where officers found human bones, graveyard soil, and ritual weapons. Three men were charged with sorcery and possession of “traditional weapons used in ritual killings,” yet were released on bail—highlighting the systemic failure that leaves families like Sallay’s without justice.
As a software developer mapping conflict and crime patterns, this is organised brutality hidden in plain sight: ritual murders are deliberately misclassified as accidents, animal attacks, or suicides, with 90% of perpetrators never caught (Arden University’s Dr Emmanuel Sarpong Owusu). In a country still scarred by civil war (50,000 dead) and Ebola (4,000 dead), belief in witchcraft runs so deep—even among police—that officers fear “spiritual retaliation,” refusing to raid shrines without traditional healers present. Let’s expose the trade, the fear, and why Sierra Leone remains trapped in silence.
The Trade: From Child Fish-Sellers to Graveyard Raids
Papayo vanished selling fish in Makeni market—found two weeks later mutilated. His case mirrors hundreds yearly: children and adults kidnapped, killed, and harvested for eyes, genitals, hearts, and tongues—believed to make juju charms “more potent” for wealth, elections, or power. Prices? Up to $5,000 per part in underground markets (BBC sources).
Undercover findings:
- Kambia “herbalist” Kanu: Offered any body part “within days,” boasting high-profile West African clients. BBC handed evidence to police—no action reported.
- Waterloo’s Idara: Claimed 250-strong network, played voice messages of accomplices ready to hunt nightly. Raid recovered human bones, hair, and cemetery dirt. Charged, then bailed.
Expert view (Sheku Tarawallie, Traditional Healers Council): “One rotting fish destroys the batch… we are healers, not killers.” Yet 45,000 healers vs. 1,000 doctors (WHO 2022) means most Sierra Leoneans turn to shrines—where rogue practitioners exploit trust.
Case Studies (2021-2025, BBC/ACLED):
| Victim | Age | Location | Parts Taken | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Papayo | 11 | Makeni | Eyes, organs, arm | Unsolved |
| Fatmata Conteh (BBC journalist’s cousin) | 28 | Makeni | Front teeth | 2025, no arrests |
| University lecturer | Adult | Freetown | Buried in shrine | 2023 case stalled, suspects bailed |
Why Most Cases Die: Fear, Resources, and Superstition
- One pathologist for 8.9 million (no autopsies in rural areas).
- 90% unsolved—misclassified as accidents/suicides (Dr Owusu).
- Police fear: Officers refuse shrine raids without healers, believing in “powers beyond knowledge” (ASP Aliu Jallo).
- Political motive: Election years spike killings—parts for “power charms.”
ACLED 2025: Ritual murders up 120% vs. 2024, highest in five years.
The Verdict: A Nation Haunted by Silence
Sallay Kalokoh’s plea—“They killed my child and now there is silence”—echoes thousands. With 90% impunity and superstition paralysing justice, Sierra Leone’s ritual killing epidemic festers. BBC Africa Eye’s evidence—raids, confessions, bones—proves the trade thrives, yet arrests evaporate on bail.
Until police overcome fear and resources match the crisis, mothers like Sallay will mourn alone.
Will Sierra Leone break the silence? Comment below. For more Africa, visit World or subscribe.
Sources: BBC Africa Eye, ACLED, WHO, Arden University for balance. Views mine.