By Alex Prince Johnson, Maryland Correspondent
Weah Village, Maryland County — Grief and outrage have gripped the residents of Weah Village following the alleged slaughter of three-year-old Adolphus Collins on Thursday, July 10. The child was reportedly killed by a man identified only as Prince, under deeply disturbing circumstances that have reignited concerns over ritual violence and mob justice in the region.
The killing occurred around midday beneath a makeshift kitchen shelter where Adolphus had been left briefly by his mother, Oretha Nyemah. On her return, she found her son’s lifeless body bearing severe wounds, with his neck almost cut off as depicted in a terrifying footage obtained by this paper. He was buried later that same day, leaving the village reeling in sorrow and disbelief.
Eyewitnesses report that earlier in the morning, the suspect had issued ominous threats against a local farmer, Jackson Wesseh, stating, “My devil needs blood today.” Later that afternoon, Wesseh’s home was discovered engulfed in flames, with his possessions destroyed. The suspect fled the village moments after the child’s death and remains at large despite a widespread community-led manhunt aided by the Community Watch Forum. Residents have searched surrounding bushland and neighboring towns, but Prince has yet to be apprehended.
Locals describe Prince as volatile and previously abusive toward his parents—behavior that allegedly led to estrangement. He had recently moved from Harper City to Weah Village to work as a charcoal producer. Authorities are urging anyone with relevant information to assist with his capture and are investigating possible ritualistic motives linked to the suspect’s threatening statements and the nature of the crime.
The tragedy adds to a growing list of violent incidents across Maryland County that bear troubling similarities. In Kudikude Village, a mob lynched 50-year-old Iweso Prowd in 2022 over theft allegations, with six suspects arrested and nine still at large. In March 2025, Rock Town witnessed the murder of Himmie Freeman, who was accused of witchcraft and fatally beaten. Four individuals were charged with murder and conspiracy. Just last month, two unexplained deaths in Manolu Town reignited fears of “Gboyo”—the local term for ritual killings. Additionally, the 2022 murder of motorcyclist Mordecial Nyemah triggered protests and a curfew in Pleebo-Sodoken District, amid speculation about politically motivated ritual violence.
Human rights groups have repeatedly condemned the prevalence of mob justice and ritual practices in Maryland County. The Independent National Commission on Human Rights and civil society organizations continue to call for stronger institutional responses and legal enforcement to protect vulnerable communities.
With Prince still evading arrest and Weah Village mourning the loss of young Adolphus, the incident casts a harsh light on the enduring cycles of violence, fear, and unresolved trauma in Maryland’s southeastern corridor. The Pleebo Highway, linking Harper to surrounding towns, carries more than traffic—it now bears the collective grief of a wounded region searching for justice.
