Massah
is missing… last seen in early August
Massah Kaikai went missing sometime between
4 – 8 August 2018, and has not been seen or heard from since. Prior to her
disappearance, Massah was in touch with her mother and two sisters in the US
every other day. Massah also had friends with whom she kept in constant
contact. But, neither family nor friends have heard from her in more than six
weeks.
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 local NGOs and funders.
“She is a confident, world traveller who’s independent, smart and caring,” said
her mother Ayodeji Babalola (nee Ademu-John).
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 workshop on Manfred Lane, off Kissy Road in the east of
Freetown. The Sierra Leone Immigration Department said there was no record of
Massah leaving Sierra Leone on any flight or across any overland border.
Massah’s mother said, “I missed a call from
her on 7 August 2018 and when I returned the call, her phone was off. I used to
text her and send her messages on WhatsApp but I haven’t heard anything from
her. This is not like her.” Ayo arrived in Sierra Leone from New York on 9
September 2018 to personally take up the search and investigation into her
daughter’s disappearance.
Massah’s father is Ansu Kaikai, former SLPP
Member of Parliament from Pujehun and former Deputy Minority Leader of
Parliament. Massah and her father are not on good terms and are estranged. In
fact, Ansu complained that Massah had blocked his phone number on her iPhone.
He left the country very shortly after Ayo arrived and did not file a missing
person’s report prior to leaving the country.
Ayo reported her missing daughter to the
Criminal Investigation Department (CID) upon her arrival. She contacted ASP
O.C. Lebbie, who interviewed her and has begun an investigation. The Head of
CID is involved and overseeing the police efforts.
The CID have arrested Massah’s boyfriend,
Ibrahim Mansaray, a driver, and are holding him in custody for further
questioning. Mansaray was found in possession of Massah’s iPhone and had
cleaned out her apartment. He sold many of the household belongings and Police
have tracked several items. Massah’s landlord said Mansaray returned the keys
to her apartment, three months before the lease was to expire, and told the
landlord that Massah had traveled and was not returning.
Gladys Quee, a family acquaintance, said
she met Massah on 8 August 2018 at Bliss Restaurant and gave her some money for
a job Massah had done. Quee may have been the last person to be with Massah before
her disappearance.
Annmarie worked for Massah a couple of days
a week as a house-helper and cook. She said she hasn’t seen Massah since early
August. Interestingly, Annmarie moved into Massah’s family home on Manfred Lane
on 3 August 2018, just around the time Massah disappeared.
The Regional Security Officers of the U.S.
Embassy in Sierra Leone are aware of the situation and are currently
investigating the missing woman. Two U.S. Embassy officers have visited ASP
Lebbie and officers at the CID on several occasions. The Security Officers
could not comment on the ongoing 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. Massah’s sister in New York notified the FBI and Ayo,
who used to work at the United Nations, has notified the Secretary General of
the UN.
The Sierra Leone Representative to the UN,
Francis Mustapha Kaikai, is also aware of Massah’s disappearance. Before Ayo
came to Sierra Leone, the mission told her “we are working on it.” And, the
mission in New York suggested to her “… not to travel to Sierra Leone just
yet.”
But Ayo traveled to Sierra Leone and has
been diligently investigating and assembling information on Massah’s
disappearance. “We are calling on everyone and anyone to try to find my
daughter,” said Massah’s mother, Ayo. “I’m contacting everyone I know who might
be able to help,” she said.
Ayo sent three e-mail letters to State
House in Freetown and met once with Keketoma Sandy, the Presidential Secretary,
who said he “would work on it and tell the President”, about the missing woman.
Sandy has since not returned Ayo’s e-mails and will not answer her calls. “I’m
sure nothing was done,” said Ayo. “But, I want the government to be aware and I
want the President to be aware,” she added.
24/9/18
