Unseen Traumas: The Devastating Impact of Gang Grooming on Our Children

Mary Bokassa’s heart-wrenching story is one that echoes through the halls of communities nationwide—her son, Kelyan, only 14 years old, fell victim to a brutal reality that too many vulnerable children face today. Stabbed 12 times on a bus in broad daylight—just hours after returning to school—Kelyan’s death is not just a statistic; it’s a loud, painful wake-up call about the dangers lurking in the shadows of our society. As Mary poignantly shared, “I screamed it, I said, ‘My son is going to be killed.’” Her voice, filled with anguish, encapsulates the despair that echoes in homes dealing with gang grooming—a menace that has plagued countless families like hers.

What happened to Kelyan is part of a larger, disturbing trend—one that sees criminal gangs using increasingly calculated methods to ensnare children, some as young as six. Like skilled predators, they lure these kids in with offers that sound like fairy tales—money, the latest tech gadgets, trendy shoes, and an enticing sense of belonging. Yet, beneath the surface, there lies a sinister agenda, turning innocent children into tools for drug trafficking. As Mary articulated, Kelyan had been targeted for years—every plea for help met with a wall of indifference: “We didn’t get the help we needed.”

In a grim twist of fate, Kelyan was not alone in his struggles. His aspirations—characterized by laughter, kindness, and ambition—were overshadowed by the realities of his circumstances. Expelled from school and entangled in legal troubles, he was just a child—an adolescent in search of direction, not a hardened criminal. His mother referred to the forces against him as grooming—a term that has resurfaced frequently in discussions surrounding the exploitation of young people. Those in power have long been warned about the insidious nature of “county lines” operations, where organized crime extends its reach into the vulnerable lives of youths in suburban areas.

Tragically, this focus on exploitation is not new. The echoes of Kelyan’s death reverberate back to past tragedies—like that of Corey Junior Davis, another young boy lost to the perils of gang violence. Both boys were victims of systemic failures, an indictment of a system that, time and time again, seems to miss the mark. A poignant reminder is drawn from Anne Longfield’s observations: these boys are not jettisoning their childhoods willingly; they are being coerced by adults who see profit in their vulnerability.

A chilling reality persists: it’s only in their final moments—when they lie bleeding, crying for their mothers—that society sees them for what they truly are—children. While Kelyan had laid flowers for Daejaun Campbell, another young victim of violence, it’s apparent that lives are being lost far too easily, often boiled down to headlines that fade as quickly as they are printed.

Scotland has tried to combat this disheartening trend through innovative policies. By adopting a public health-led approach—targeting the root causes of violent behavior—they’ve seen success in lowering violent crime. Yet, what seems evident is the need for a comprehensive and cohesive strategy here in England, spearheaded by leaders who recognize the urgency. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is attempting to forge such pathways with her cross-government initiative aimed at addressing the myriad challenges facing today’s youth—mental health, social services, and more. But as she scrambles to gather a budget suitable for the demands of her mission, one can’t help but question whether enough is being done—whether society will rally behind a cause that feels all too distant.

But the crux of the matter is not merely in policies or funding; it’s about recognizing the children at risk—the ones who, left unchecked, will inevitably spiral into the arms of exploitation. If society continues to turn a blind eye, we will face a future where more mothers, like Mary Bokassa, will be left in tears, unable to save their children from the very predators that are supposed to be kept at bay. Further, if we fail to see the stark reality of what’s unfolding—young lives caught in a web of crime and violence—we risk becoming mere spectators, watching in horror as more lives slip through our fingers in broad daylight.