By: Shallon S. Gonlor
NIMBA COUNTY, Liberia — What began as a strange and painful condition has turned into a story of confession, traditional justice, and community intervention in Nimba County.
After nearly two months of enduring what locals described as a “ritual-induced” penile erection, Mr. Christian Youhn, a resident of Mao Town, Yarpea Mahn District, has finally confessed to having intimate relationships with the wives of his accusers — an admission that has prompted traditional authorities to begin steps toward his relief and healing.
The unusual case has gripped the attention of both locals and the Chiefs and Elders Council of Nimba County, who dispatched a special delegation across the border to neighboring Guinea to locate the herbalist believed to have performed the ritual.
From Denial to Confession
For weeks, Mr. Youhn maintained his innocence, repeatedly denying allegations that he had affairs with women married to or connected with two brothers — Prince Duo and Bill Duo — who accused him of betrayal.
However, on Monday, October 13, 2025, during the visit of the Nimba Chiefs’ delegation to Guinea, Youhn broke his silence. He confessed before the elders that he had indeed engaged in relationships with the wives of both men.
“It’s true that I did it,” he admitted. “I was ashamed and afraid of being disgraced if I told the truth.”
His confession, according to traditional leaders, paved the way for the herbalist to begin reversing the alleged ritual, which had left Youhn in constant pain and distress for nearly two months.
A Painful Ordeal
In an earlier statement, before his confession, Youhn described his experience as “one of the darkest moments” of his life.
“I’ve spent more than thirty thousand Liberian dollars on medical treatments, but nothing has worked,” he said. “I couldn’t sleep, sit, or move comfortably. It felt worse than death.”
Medical treatment reportedly provided no relief, prompting local elders to conclude that the condition was the result of a spiritual or ritual act, allegedly performed by a Guinean traditional practitioner hired by the two accusers.
Chiefs Launch Humanitarian Intervention
The case soon drew the attention of the National Council of Chiefs and Elders through its Nimba branch, which stepped in to prevent the matter from escalating further.
On Saturday, October 11, 2025, the Council dispatched an official envoy to Guinea, tasking it with locating the herbalist said to be responsible for the act. Their mission was to persuade the practitioner to return to Liberia and reverse the ritual.
A formal communiqué from the Council’s office in Sanniquellie described the trip as a “critical humanitarian mission” and authorized Prince Duo, one of the accused, to represent the Council in coordinating the process.
“Our objective is to ensure a peaceful and amicable resolution,” the statement noted, emphasizing that traditional justice should never result in prolonged human suffering.
Roots of the Conflict
The dispute reportedly began in mid-August 2025, when Duo and his brother confronted Youhn over allegations that he was involved with their partners. The confrontation escalated, and shortly thereafter, Youhn began to suffer from what he described as an inexplicable and painful condition.
Following local appeals, the matter was referred to the Chiefs and Elders Council, which conducted a traditional investigation. Both accusers later admitted to consulting a herbalist in Guinea to “teach the man a lesson.”
