Joshua Blahyi (General Butt Naked)
Joshua Milton Blahyi (September 30th, 1971 - ) better known by his alias General Butt Naked, was a commander under the warlord Roosevelt Johnson during the First Liberian Civil War, during which he became known for his extreme violence and the atrocities and numerous war crimes he committed. A short time before the end of the war, he converted to Christianity and became a preacher.
|
| “ | Sometimes I would enter under the water where children were playing. I would dive under the water, grab one, carry him under and break his neck. Sometimes I'd cause accidents. Sometimes I'd just slaughter them. | „ |
| ~ Blahyi recounts how he would sacrifice children. |
He got his nickname Butt Naked, because he did exactly that, he fought naked during battles and he also ordered his both adult and child soldiers to fight naked because he believed it made you invincible. He also believed cannibalism made you invincible. He had a couple of assassination attempts after the war, although nowadays he is respected by the community. He is also working towards to convert all of the warlords in Liberia. He did an interview with VICE Media in 2012 in the documentary "The Cannibal Warlords of Liberia" about the struggles of Liberia, his past as a Warlord and what he does now.
He is also supporting the tribunal establishment in Liberia brought up by US congress.
Biography edit
Blahyi was born into the Sarpo tribe in Liberia. The Krahn elders appointed him, at age eleven, as high priest, a position that would lead him to become the spiritual advisor to Liberian President Samuel Doe. Blahyi adhered to a complex traditional belief system as a Krahn priest.
Blahyi has said he led his troops naked except for sneakers and armed with a gun or machete. He believed that his nakedness was a source of protection from bullets. Blahyi stated he would regularly sacrifice a victim before every battle. "Usually it was a small child, someone whose fresh blood would satisfy the devil."
In January 2008, Blahyi confessed to taking part in human sacrifices which "included the killing of an innocent child and taking out the heart, which was divided into pieces for us to eat."
Blahyi claimed to a South African Star reporter that he "met Satan regularly and talked to him" and that from age of 11 to 25 he took part in monthly human sacrifices.
During the First Liberian Civil War he led a mercenary unit, many of whom were child soldiers, which was known as the Butt Naked Brigade. His troop fought on behalf of the Liberia Peace Council. They were funded by Roosevelt Johnson and fought alongside the United Liberation Movement of Liberia for Democracy (ULIMO) militia against militias led by Charles Taylor and Prince Johnson. ULIMO was loyal to Samuel Doe, who was captured and executed personally by Prince Johnson. Taylor eventually took control of the country.
Blahyi's rampage ended in 1996, when the civil war in Liberia was coming to an end. He states his conversion was bolstered by a church in Liberia where Bishop Kun Kun is a pastor. They claimed to have heard from God to fast 54 days for his deliverance. After the fast, they claim God gave them spiritual powers to infiltrate his coven in Monrovia and preach to him. Shortly after, Blahyi claims, he experienced a theophany in which Jesus Christ appeared to him as a blinding light, spoke to him as a son, and told him that he would die unless he repented his sins.