General Butt Naked
General Butt Naked
Joshua Milton Blahyi, famously known as General Butt Naked was one of Liberia’s warlords. He was one of the soldiers under another warlord, Roosevelt Johnson.
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Blahyi started out as a traditional priest, who took part in his first ritualistic murder and act of cannibalism at just 11 years old.
He later joined the rebel army, where he earned his moniker General Butt Naked because he led his men into battle wearing nothing but sneakers and a machete. He believed he had the power to become invisible and clothes were just a hindrance during the process.
Blahyi claimed that he killed more than 20,000 people. Some of the cruel things he did include placing bets on whether a pregnant woman was carrying a boy or a girl before killing her and slicing he belly to see who was right. He also sacrificed children and ate them before battle as he believed it would give him the strength to beat his opponents.
Blahyi eventually converted to Christianity in 1996 before the end of the war. He claims he saw Jesus, who told him to repent or die for his sins. He repented and has so far been going around the country preaching and seeking forgiveness from people who suffered under his reign as commander.
Evangelist and ex-combatant, Joshua Milton Blahyi, preaches in a church in his hometown of Grand Gedeh, THIERRY GOUEGNON/REUTERS
