By Dr. Fatima Babih
In the quiet corners of Kamaseh Village near the town of Kabala in northern Sierra Leone, a haunting silence shrouds the brutal rape and murder of a radiant soul, IyebaSanda Barrie. In the face of such unspeakable horror, one would expect the nation to tremble with outrage and demand justice, but sadly, this is not the case. Iyeba met her tragic fate in the northern heartland of our country, and it has been nearly a week. Yet, the echoes of her suffering have not reached the far corners of our beloved land.
Iyeba, a tender soul at age 35, hailed from a close-knit community, a family that cherished and adored her. But in a cruel twist of fate, she fell victim to demons cloaked in human guise, heartlessly extinguishing her light and violating her very essence as a human being. Her lifeless, broken body was abandoned by a serene stream, awaiting discovery by her unsuspecting community members, who now whisper that she was not the first but the third or fourth victim in their community.
This grim reality paints a chilling portrait of Sierra Leone as the darkest place for girls and women to exist.
In the wake of countless brutalities against girls and women, the time for action should have been yesterday, today, and every day hereafter. Yet, Iyeba’s tragic story remains an isolated cry in the wilderness. Just yesterday, her grieving family took to the Wi Yard YouTube program, announcing that the women in their community would march on this very day, February 1, 2024, demanding justice.
However, this march should not be confined to one corner of our land because Iyeba’s merciless murder should resonate as a resounding alarm across our nation. Every woman in Sierra Leone should bear the name IyebaSanda Barrie as they all stand on the face of becoming the next victim in this heart-wrenching pandemic of gender-based violence that is plaguing our homeland.
It is a grievous truth that rape and brutality against women continue to be met with apathy in Sierra Leone. I speak from personal experience, as some family members have vilified me for my role in the incarceration of just one out of five rapists in a single community. Until families and communities stand resolute in their commitment to protect their daughters and sisters, women shall never know true safety in Sierra Leone. Until we become steadfast guardians, these gender-based atrocities will persist because our government is engrossed in the hollow rhetoric of “gender equality” and “women’s empowerment” while our daughters and sisters live in constant danger.
In memory of Iyeba Sanda Barrie, let us rise as one nation, one voice, and declare, “Enough is enough!” We must forge a united front against this scourge that threatens our women’s very existence. Only when every Sierra Leonean recognizes the gravity of the situation and acknowledges that no girl or woman is safe in our land can we hope for a safer future. Our tears, anger, and love for Iyeba must fuel the change we desperately need. The time for justice, protection, and unity is now because together, we can ensure that no more innocent lives are snuffed out by the darkness that lingers over girls and women in our beloved Sierra Leone.
A Prayer for Our Dear Iyeba Sanda Barrie
O’ Allah, forgive our daughter/sister Iyeba Sanda Barrie, have mercy on her, strengthen her soul, and pardon all her mistakes. O’ Allah, be generous to her, make her entrance wide, and wash her with water, snow, and hail. O’ Allah, Cleanse Iyeba of her wrongdoings as white cloth is cleansed of stains. O Allah, Accept her good deeds, forgive her sins, and place our daughter/sister Iyeba into Janatul Firdaus. O’ Allah, Grant her family solace and increase their patience. O’ Allah, Expose Iyeba Sanda Barrie’s killers, whoever they are and wherever they are, and bring them to justice in this Dunya and in Akhira. O’ Allah, grant our prayers, Ameen ya Rabb
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Wednesday, February 7th, 2024 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)