A tragic incident has been reported from Freetown, Sierra Leone, where a 5-year-old girl, Kadijah M. Saccoh, died after reportedly being raped by her cousin, along with her 8-year-old sister. The culprits, a woman and her son, have been apprehended in connection with the devastating incident.
Kadijah and her sister were residing with their aunt and her son in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Their father, Congolese Saccoh, who lives in the U.S., had been attempting to bring Kadijah, a U.S. citizen, to the U.S. but was prevented by a Judge due to lack of support from the mother. As a result, the girls remained with their aunt, who is their mother’s elder sister.
Tragically, the aunt’s son began sexually assaulting both sisters. Shockingly, when the aunt discovered that her son had raped Kadijah’s sister, she chose to conceal the incident from their parents and attempted to handle the situation herself. Unfortunately, the horrific cycle of abuse continued, leading to the death of Kadijah, after which the aunt hastily tried to bury her without due process.
Upon being informed of Kadijah’s death, her father insisted on a postmortem examination, revealing that Kadijah was raped multiple times. Furthermore, the elder daughter also tested positive for sexual assault. The aunt and her son have since been arrested, prompting public outcry with the hashtags #JusticeForKadijahSaccoh and #JusticeForKadijah.
In response to this heinous act, there have been demonstrations demanding justice for the victims. Celebrities and women’s groups have taken to the streets, advocating for an immediate investigation and swift action against the perpetrators.
[caption: A photo from the protest.]
A public release from Women in the Media Sierra Leone urged authorities to expedite the investigation and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice. The call for justice has gained attention on social media, with notable figures emphasizing the urgent need to address this issue and bring an end to the culture of impunity for perpetrators of sexual violence.