Massah Kaikai has not been seen or heard
from for 100 days. She went missing sometime between 4 – 8 August 2018. Massah’s
mother, Ayodeji Babalola (nee Ademu-John), her sisters in the U.S., her father,
Ansumana Jaia Kaikai, her business colleagues and friends have
been trying frantically to find Massah. The investigative trail has uncovered
twists and turns but Massah is yet to be found.
Ayo, Massah’s mother,
said, “This is a very serious security and safety issue for Sierra Leone. A
young woman, diligently giving back to her country and promoting development,
suddenly cannot be located. And, no efficient efforts are being made after
three months… The safety and security of all individuals coming into to Sierra
Leone for work, tourism, development, investment and other matters should be a
top priority.”
Massah Kaikai (left) with international partners
Massah is a 40-year old American citizen
born of Sierra Leonean parents. She lived on Lower Pipeline Road, off Wilkinson
Road and had a training workshop on a family property on Manfred Lane, off
Kissy Road in the east of Freetown.
Kaikai returned to Sierra Leone in 2014 to
work on development projects with women, the disabled community and children.
She set up a small business and made connections with giant American retailers,
local NGOs, government ministries such as Tourism, Foreign Affairs, Trade and
funders.
The Chief Immigration Officer, Andrew Jaia
Kaikai, said there was no record of Massah leaving Sierra Leone on any flight
or across any overland border. Interpol has been notified and airports and
borders around the world are keeping an eye out for her passport, which is also
missing along with all her identification.
Massah’s mother, Ayo Babalola, arrived in
Freetown from New York on 9 September 2018 to personally initiate a missing
person’s file with the Sierra Leone Police and launch her own search. She said,
“Nothing was being done to find Massah. Her father hadn’t contacted the Police.
Her friends or sisters hadn’t heard anything. I had no word so I had to come
myself. I just want her back, safe and sound.”
The Regional Security Officers of the U.S.
Embassy in Sierra Leone are aware of the situation and are working with local
police. Two U.S. Embassy officers have visited ASP Lebbie, the officer in
charge of the investigation at the CID, on several occasions. The Security
Officers could not comment on the ongoing investigation but U.S. Ambassador,
Maria E. Brewer is aware of Massah’s disappearance. After three weeks, she
indicated, “We have been encouraging Sierra Leone’s police to follow up on all
available information and keenly await an outcome from their investigation.” The
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the U.S. and West Africa have been
notified and are monitoring the ongoing search and investigation.
The Police investigation is very slowly
progressing but is stalled by a lack of capacity, inefficiency and a seeming
lack of will, according to Massah’s mother. Ayo attends the CID almost everyday
to encourage the Police. She said, “There is a major gender issue as I try to
navigate and encourage the investigation, as a mother and a woman, I am not
respected or my concerns are not addressed equitably because I am not a man.” Ayo
complained to R.P.G. Roberts, Deputy Head of CID and Legal Adviser to the
Sierra Leone Police, who promptly called a meeting of all involved. He instructed
investigators to show more respect and to put more efforts into actions to find
Massah. The second officer in charge of the investigation has since requested a
transfer off the case. The Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Priscilla Schwartz, is in receipt of documents and letters but is yet to
respond.
One suspect, Ibrahim Mansaray, Massah’s driver, is currently in
custody and has been questioned by the Inspector General of Police, ASP Memunu
Jalloh, who knows Massah personally, and the Head of CID. The suspect has
provided very little information as to Massah’s disappearance but was in
possession of Massah’s IPhone when he was arrested. After 45 days, the Cyber
Crime Unit of CID has finally retrieved scant information from Massah’s phone
but it has not proved useful in tracking Massah’s movements or whereabouts. The
legal team at Orange, the telecom provider, will not comment and have not been
helpful in providing information to the investigation.
Mansaray also looted Massah’s apartment of furniture, clothing and
kitchen items before returning the keys to the landlords, Neneh and Samuel Carlton-Carew.
According to the landlords, Massah was a quiet, good tenant. The apartment was
paid for until the end of December 2018.
Massah’s father, Ansumana Jaia KaiKai, is
the former SLPP Member of Parliament from Pujehun District, and former Deputy
Minority Leader of Parliament. He and Massah were not on good terms and are
estranged. Ansumana Jaia Kaikai has refused comment but has not been overly
helpful in the search for his daughter, according to Massah’s mother. Ansumana
Kaikai left the country for two weeks just after Massah’s mother arrived in
Freetown and had not notified the Police nor filed a missing person’s report
even though Massah had been missing for almost a month. According to the
Police, Ansumana Jaia Kaikai made a brief statement to officers at CID.
At one point, according to a friend of
Massah’s, Ansumana Kaikai said he sent a private search party to Bo and Pujehun
to investigate his daughter’s disappearance. He said he held prayers in his
home area and Massah would be returned on a specific date, which has long since
past. Interestingly, Massah’s driver, Mansaray, used to work for the former MP,
who also provided a vehicle to Massah for a short period of time.
Prior to Massah’s disappearance, Massah was
recommended to President Bio by the Minister of Trade and Industry, Peter Bayuku Konteh, for an
appointment as Executive Chair of the Small and Medium Enterprise Development
Agency (SMEDA) based on her
professional qualifications and previous successful projects with American
Apparel retailer and the United States Embassy. Massah met Minister Konteh when
he was Minister of Tourism and Massah was working on a project with Brussels
Air. The Minister said he last spoke to Massah sometime in June. He added,
Massah was also having meetings with the former Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Samura Kamara and the current minister, Alie Kabba. The SMEDA position is yet
to be filled and no one has been called to the Parliamentary Committee of
Appointments or Parliament for approval.
Interestingly, Edward Sesay, who also works
at the Ministry of Trade, said he used to see Massah around the Ministry
offices and became a friend. He helped Massah find her apartment almost three years
ago. He also recommended Ann Marie Turay, whom he knew as a neighbour and
friend, as a housekeeper to Massah. Turay worked for Massah up until the time
of Massah’s disappearance. She has been questioned by the Police but provided
very little information that could lead to Massah’s return. She remains a
person of interest in the investigation. Apparently, with Massah’s permission,
Ann Marie moved into Massah’s late grandfather’s family home on Manfred Lane on
3 August 2018, around the time Massah disappeared.
“With respect and
never-ending love and admiration for my daughter, Massah Kaikai, I will leave
no stone unturned, knock on every door… do all I can to see Massah Kaikai in
front of me, safe and sound.” Ayodeji Babalola (nee
Ademu-John).
The family property on Manfred Lane is a
large farm with several buildings. It belonged to Ayo’s father’s family and
after his death was divided between nine siblings including Ayo. The property
has been greatly reduced in size by encroachers but remains a valuable piece of
real estate in the heart of Freetown. Massah was given Letters of Accreditation
over the property through her mother, Ayo, and was trying to develop sections
of the land. Ansumana Jaia Kaikai was also named in the Accreditation document.
Gladys Quee, a lawyer and former girlfriend
of Ansumana Jaia Kaikai, was advising Massah about removing her father’s name
from the Accreditation document, including other land matters.
Ayo, Massah’s mother, met with the First
Lady, Fatima Bio, on Friday 19 October 2018, who took immediate action and
called her husband, the President, during the meeting. Fatima Bio explained the
situation briefly to the President who was to “make some calls and take
action”. Vice-President Juldeh Jalloh is also aware of the situation.
SD/3/11/18
