Ritual crimes: Gabon considers reinstating the death penalty

Gabon is a country in Central Africa. With an area of 270,000 square km (100,000 square miles) it belongs to the group of small African countries. Its population is estimated to be less than 3 million people. Though it is considered one of the wealthiest African countries in terms of per capital income – Gabon’s nominal GDP per capita was $10,149 in 2023 – many Gabonese people live in poor conditions whereas a minority leads a life of luxury. Reportedly, the richest 20% of the population earn over 90% of the income while about a third of the Gabonese population lives in poverty.

At present, the president of the country is Brice Oligui Nguema. The general and former military government ruler, who led a successful military coup in August 2023, ending 55 years (!) of rule of father and son Bongo – Omar Bongo Ondimba (1967-2009) and Ali Bongo Ondimba (2009-2023) – won the presidential elections in April last year with nearly 95 percent of the vote. He was sworn in as the country’s fourth president (since independence in 1960) after leading a 19-months transition government. Interestingly, Brice Oligui Nguema is a maternal cousin of his predecessor, Ali Bongo.

In a recent post I already reported a rise of ritual killings in the country. An explanation is lacking. Ritual murders are not uncommon in this country. The death penalty was abolished in 2010. Recently there have been renewed calls for reinstating the capital punishment for ritual crimes. It is doubtful whether this will stop this gruesome practice.
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Ritual Crimes: Gabon Considers Reinstating the Death Penalty

Attention: screenshot. To access the video please click here
Sources : Fides/cath.ch / FSSPX Actualités
Illustration : Lukasz Kobus – Wikimedia Commons / Union européenne (CC BY 4.0)

Published: January 26, 2026
By: FSSPX NEWS

Brice Oligui Nguema, President of Gabon

In Gabon, a wave of ritual crimes has once again plunged the population into terror. Faced with the horror, the head of state has reopened the debate on the reinstatement of the death penalty. The Catholic Church finds itself at a crossroads, between absolute condemnation of the barbaric crimes and its alignment with the recent positions of the magisterium regarding the death penalty.

A Resurgence That Sows Terror

Emotions are running high since the discovery of mutilated bodies, often those of children or women, deprived of vital organs. These macabre removals, intended for occult practices supposedly conferring power and wealth, are fueling a collective psychosis. The recent case of young Cameron, whose murder sparked a wave of outrage, is only the tip of the iceberg that the Association for the Fight Against Ritual Crimes (ALCR) has been denouncing for decades.

The Possible Return of Capital Punishment

Faced with popular pressure and the growing feeling of insecurity, General Oligui Nguema has taken a symbolic step. During his New Year’s address to the nation in January 2026, the head of state suggested a public consultation, or even a referendum, on the reinstatement of the death penalty, which was abolished in Gabon in 2010. For the transitional government, this is a way to respond to a thirst for immediate justice and to mark the end of impunity perceived as an admission of complicity. Supporters of the “yes” vote see this measure as the only safeguard capable of deterring the perpetrators and those who commission these bloody rituals.

The Episcopate’s Dilemma

The Gabonese Catholic Church, a historical moral force in the country, finds itself in a delicate position. While it condemns in the strongest terms what it calls the “profanation of the human being,” the Church, like most episcopates, has aligned itself with the 180-degree shift made by the Vatican on this issue. While the Catechism of the Catholic Church, published in 1992 under the reign of Pope John Paul II, still defended the legitimacy of capital punishment, Pope Francis has—almost entirely—said the exact opposite. It is a position followed so far by his successor. Thus, for the bishops, ritual crime is the expression of a “culture of death” that cannot be fought by shedding more blood. This is an idealistic position that is too “Western” in flavor for many Africans, and one that the Church risks creating a misunderstanding.

The Gabonese prelates prefer to encourage the authorities to address the root causes of the problem, which they have, moreover, identified very well: the corruption of the judicial system, the poverty that makes the population vulnerable, and especially the influence of esoteric sects within the administration.

For a Stronger Church

The ALCR, for its part, emphasizes that, in the past, sentences of life imprisonment have not been sufficient to stem the tide of this scourge, due to a lack of strict application of the law and protection of witnesses.

The fight against ritual crimes demands immediate, exemplary punishments and requires a rehabilitation of moral values ​​as well as a radical reform of the state apparatus so that every citizen feels protected by the law, and not by perverted ancestral rituals. To achieve this, the Church will need to rediscover a powerful doctrine and voice, which the era inaugurated at Vatican II has not helped strengthen.

Source: Ritual Crimes: Gabon Considers Reinstating the Death Penalty

Kenya: The ‘torch ritual’: House Speaker Wetang’ula ‘haunted’ as DCI probes Jirongo death mystery

Kenya is not often in the news when it comes to witchcraft and superstition, but this does not mean that these phenomena are unknown there. The following report bears witness to this.
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The Torch Ritual: Wetang’ula “Haunted” as DCI Probes Jirongo Death Mystery

Speaker Moses Wetang’ula records a statement with the DCI regarding the death of Cyrus Jirongo, as rumors of a traditional “torch ritual” to expose his killers grip Western Kenya.

Published: January 21, 2026
By: Stamline – Kenya

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has found himself at the center of a macabre political storm, recording a statement with the DCI as rumors of a traditional “torch ritual” swirl around the sudden death of veteran politician Cyrus Jirongo.

Jirongo, a former cabinet minister and one-time kingmaker, died in a grisly road accident on the Nairobi-Nakuru highway in December 2025. While police maintain it was a tragic crash, whispers of assassination have refused to die, fueled by leaders from the Western region who are demanding answers.

The “Lit Torch” Ultimatum

The saga took a supernatural turn when elders from Jirongo’s Tiriki community threatened to bury him with a “lit torch”—a traditional curse believed to hunt down killers. “If the torch goes out, the killer dies,” warned Saboti MP Caleb Amisi. Now, social media is abuzz with claims that the “torch is working,” casting a shadow over the Speaker.

  • The Last Meeting: Wetang’ula revealed he was one of the last people to see Jirongo alive. They met for an hour on Jamhuri Day evening, a meeting the Speaker described as “ordinary” but which detectives are now scrutinizing for clues.
  • The Probe: Wetang’ula is among 28 individuals questioned by the DCI. Detectives are reconstructing Jirongo’s final 24 hours to rule out foul play.
  • The Politicization: The Speaker has warned against politicizing the death, pleading with leaders to respect the family. “I don’t want to be cheered or jeered. This death touches me personally,” he told mourners.

A Region on Edge

The death has reopened old wounds in Western Kenya politics, with factions trading accusations. The DCI’s investigation is now a race against time to provide a scientific explanation before the narrative of “witchcraft and assassination” takes permanent root.

For Wetang’ula, the third most powerful man in the country, the ghost of his longtime friend—and the glowing embers of the Tiriki torch—pose a unique and unsettling challenge.

Source: The Torch Ritual: Wetang’ula “Haunted” as DCI Probes Jirongo Death Mystery

Traditional healers condemn muthi murders and child abuse in South Africa

Introduction under construction (webmaster FVDK)

‘That is not African tradition’: Traditional healers condemn muthi murders and child abuse in South Africa

Published: January 12, 2026
By: Jonisayi Maromo – IOL, South Africa

South Africa has for decades grappled with the scourge of child mutilation and abuse cases in which body parts, especially those of children, are used in brutal rituals purported to enhance wealth or bring good fortune.

In some instances, children are sexually abused as part of so-called rituals falsely believed to provide healing or prosperity for the perpetrator.

Traditional healers, commonly known as sangomas, are often implicated in these heinous acts. Some have been arrested by the South African Police Service (SAPS), while others have been attacked by community members when such incidents come to light.

In August last year, IOL reported that two additional suspects, including a sangoma, were arrested for the brutal murder of a 34-year-old Limpopo mother and her two-year-old daughter. The pair had been reported missing in May, triggering an extensive search.

During an intensive police operation at Hlabeni, under the Saselamani policing area, officers arrested the two suspects. One of them, a traditional healer from Muraga village under the Thohoyandou policing precinct, was allegedly found in possession of the severed heads of the victims.

“Further police investigations led the members to the residence of a 38-year-old traditional healer at Muraga village under the Thohoyandou precinct. The traditional healer was allegedly found in possession of the missing heads of the two victims and was also placed under arrest,” Limpopo police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said at the time.

Police said a credible lead resulted in the discovery of the bodies of the mother and child, after which the suspects were immediately linked to the crime and arrested.

Screenshot – to play the video please click here

Against this backdrop, IOL this week travelled to Ekangala, and spoke to celebrity sangoma Mandla Lekhuleni, popularly known as Prof Lekhuleni, on the sidelines of a traditional celebration attended by healers from South Africa and Mozambique.

“Speaking the truth does not break any friendship or a spaza shop. Those people using body parts of children or albinos — that is a crime. There is no such thing,” Lekhuleni said. “Since I started practising, I was never taught that if you want money or your business to grow, you must kill someone or use human blood. That is 100% criminal.”

He rejected claims that human sacrifice forms part of African traditional healing.

“I hear people saying sangomas use human sacrifices to make people rich. That is not what I learnt or what my gobela taught me. I was taught to go to the mountains, to rivers, to dig and collect medicine from nature — herbs that help uplift a person who is down,” he said.

Traditional medicine and rituals are widely believed across South Africa and in Africa to help cure illnesses or improve people’s livelihoods. Lekhuleni, who has a large social media following, regularly shares content about traditional healing practices.

“In my indumba (traditional room where a sangoma practices), you will never find even a small human bone. Killing someone to make another person rich is not African traditional medicine. African traditional medicine uses herbs, sometimes combined with iziwasho ,” he said.

“That is pure criminality, and I am willing to assist the police. Wherever such so-called traditional healers are found, I will work with the police to ensure they are arrested and never practise again. They must never see the light of day.”

Lekhuleni said traditional healers across the Southern African Development Community were increasingly alarmed by the rise in so-called muthi murders and were working together to combat the practice.

From Maputo, Mozambique, prominent traditional healer Rei Magoxa said ritual killings had tarnished the work of genuine African traditionalists.

“As someone representing SADC, I want to make it clear that this is not our habit and not from us as traditional healers,” he said. “Traditional healers do not do this. Perhaps there are people with bad habits using our name, but we do not know where this comes from.”

“The law must take its course against such people, because this is not part of African traditional healing,” Magoxa added.

Academic and traditional health practitioner Sefadi Mohami echoed these sentiments, describing perpetrators of muthi murders as criminals masquerading as healers.

“That is not us, and it cannot be done under our name,” Mohami said. “As traditional healers, we are custodians of African traditions and amadlozi (ancestors). We represent those who walked before us, including kings and queens, and our work must be carried out with dignity.”

Mohami, who is affiliated with the SADC University of African Medicine, said the institution had taken a firm stance against ritual killings and child abuse.

“We are saying no to ritual killings. We are saying no to the abuse of children and to children being molested in the name of traditional healing. That is not us,” he said. “Unfortunately, it is happening under our name, but those responsible are thugs and have nothing to do with African traditional healing.”

Last year, IOL reported that a 50-year-old sangoma, Sebokoana Khounyana appeared before the Vanderbijlpark Magistrates’ Court in Gauteng facing charges of premeditated murder and human trafficking of two-year-old baby, Kutlwano Shalaba.

Gauteng spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Lumka Mahanjana, said a charge of premeditated murder was also added against the baby’s mother, Kuneuwe Portia Shalaba.

The 32-year-old mother was previously facing charges of human trafficking, conspiracy to commit robbery and making a false statement to the police.

“It is alleged that on 10 November 2024, the mother of the child (Kuneuwe) took the child to the sangoma (Khounyana) and requested him to kill her child because she was not happy with the gender of the baby and was tired of hiding it from her family. The child (Kutlwano) was a girl,” said Mahanjana.

“The mother then allegedly fed the baby poison, and after the baby died, it is alleged that the two took the child and buried her body in a shallow grave in Waterpan.”

jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za

IOL News  

Source: ‘That is not African tradition’: Traditional healers condemn muthi murders and child abuse in South Africa

Gabon – Faced with alarm over ritual murders, President Brice Oligui Nguema asks the population whether they want the death penalty reintroduced

Since starting this website on ritual murders in Africa I have published more than one post on ritual crimes in Gabon, a small country situated on the Atlantic Coast, though not much is known about the frequency of murders for ritualistic purposes in this Central African country with an estimated population of less than 3 million people.

The oldest case of murder for ritualistic purposes mentioned on this site dates from 2005, and may have been linked to elections in the country. See my August 17, 2018 post, Gabon election raises fears of ritual killings. Unfortunately, Gabon thus lists among a large group of African countries where elections are accompanied by a surge in ritualistic murders. My August 16, 2018 post entitled Gabon senator arrested in ritual killing case, referring to a 2013 ritual murder case, also draws attention to the criminal practices of ambitious politicians, eager to obtain or maintain wealthy and prestigious positions. The year 2013 was a notorious year for ritualistic murders in Gabon, see my November 23, 2023 post, Anger rises in Gabon after rash of ritual killings.

Hence the reported wave of ritual murders which incites the government of President Oligui to consider reinstating the death penalty for ritual crimes is not a new phenomenon in the country. Then why now this cry for the reinstatement of the capital punishment?

While international law does not prohibit the death penalty, most countries consider it a violation of human rights. (webmaster FVDK)

Faced with alarm over ritual murders, Gabon’s President Brice Oligui Nguema asks the population whether they want the death penalty reintroduced

Published: January 9, 2026
By: Agenzia Fides – Gabon

Libreville (Agenzia Fides) –Citizens will decide whether the death penalty will be imposed for so-called “ritual murders.” This was announced by the President of Gabon, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, in his New Year’s address on January 2. The death penalty was abolished in Gabon in 2010, but in light of the social unrest triggered by the increase in so-called “ritual murders,” President Nguema stated that he wants to consult the population on whether to reintroduce the death penalty to punish those who commit such acts. “This decision must be made by the people who elected me,” he declared.

The Gabonese population was shocked by the case of Pascal Cameron Ngueba Loko, a 13-year-old boy who disappeared on December 17 and whose body was found on December 22 in a septic tank near his home. One of the four suspects arrested by police confessed to killing the boy for fetishistic purposes on the orders of an as-yet-unknown instigator.

Remarkably, according to the coroner, the boy’s body showed no signs of organ removal.

Ritual killings have a long history in Gabon, so much so that there is even an association dedicated to combating ritual crimes, which organized a protest march in 2013.

Those who commission these brutal acts seek to gain material advantages through “magical” practices involving the mutilation of young victims’ bodies.

The Catholic bishops have intervened on several occasions to counteract these practices. On December 28, 2025, the Gabonese Bishops’ Conference celebrated the conclusion of its Jubilee and the National Day for Combating All Forms of Violence and Attacks on Life in Oyem. In his homily, the President of the Bishops’ Conference and Bishop of Oyem, Jean Vincent Ondo Éyéne, condemned these “barbaric” acts and called on the security forces to fully embrace their responsibility in order to restore the public’s trust.

“My heart is filled with sorrow for the ritual murders that are staining our beloved country with blood,” said the Bishop of Oyem. “I think of those who have been taken from life, whose bodies have been desecrated, and whose innocence has been broken,” he continued, referring in particular to the murder of Pascal Cameron Loko and to numerous other victims whose crimes go unpunished.

The President of the Gabonese Bishops’ Conference entrusted the souls of the innocent victims to God and prayed for eternal rest for them and comfort for their families. He also remembered the survivors, who are forever scarred by this violence, and prayed for their physical and spiritual healing. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 9/1/2025)

Source: GABON – Faced with alarm over “ritual murders”, the President asks the population whether they want the death penalty reintroduced

Uganda: Kabaka of Buganda condemns ritual killings

Ritual killings in Uganda are rampant. I have frequently paid attention to this scourge which terrifies the population of this East-African country. In the current year alone I published eight posts on ritualistic crimes. According to official sources, police recorded at least 78 cases of ritual killings in 2024 (NB: more the one every week!), up from 62 cases in 2023 and 49 in 2022. Reportedly, children make up a significant proportion of the victims. However, it cannot be excluded that reported cases are only the tip of the iceberg. Human right groups in Uganda claim that many ritual murder cases go unreported (see below).

In his 2025 annual Christmas message, the Kabaka of Buganda, Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II, commented on the growing number of children who were reported missing and were later found dead, brutally murdered, and in some cases with body parts missing.

Read the full story below.
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Kabaka Condemns Ritual Killings and Urges Protection of Children

The Kabaka also warned about the return of violent criminal gangs, including machete-wielding attackers who target people at night, saying the combination of ritual killings and organised crime had heightened insecurity.

Published: December 23, 2025
By: Geoffrey Omara – Chimp Reports, Uganda

The Kabaka of Buganda, Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II, has strongly condemned the rise in ritual killings in Uganda, especially those involving children, warning that the resurgence of such crimes is spreading fear in communities and threatening public safety.

In his annual Christmas message, the cultural monarch said there were growing reports of children going missing and later being found brutally murdered, with some cases involving mutilation.

“We continue to hear reports of people whose children disappear and never return. Later we read in newspapers that some children are brutally killed and their body parts cut off,” the Kabaka said, adding that many Ugandans had believed such acts were a thing of the past.

“We thought these crimes had ended, but they have resurfaced again,” he said.

Uganda Police Force data shows that ritual murders remain a serious concern.

According to the force’s latest annual crime report, police recorded at least 78 cases of ritual killings in 2024, up from 62 cases in 2023 and 49 in 2022. Police say children make up a significant proportion of the victims. (italics and bold letter type added by the webmaster FVDK).

Authorities have linked many of the killings to criminal networks exploiting beliefs in quick wealth or power through human sacrifice, with cases reported mainly in rural districts across central and eastern Uganda.

The Kabaka also warned about the return of violent criminal gangs, including machete-wielding attackers who target people at night, saying the combination of ritual killings and organised crime had heightened insecurity.

He urged parents and communities to take extra precautions to protect children, particularly during the festive season.

Children

“We appeal to everyone to be vigilant and to protect ourselves and our children, especially during this festive period,” he said.

The monarch called on security agencies to step up efforts to protect citizens and their property, warning that failure to act decisively emboldens criminals and erodes public trust.

“Protecting life is a shared duty,” he said, stressing the importance of moral upbringing, community vigilance and cooperation between cultural institutions, local leaders and the state.

Uganda outlawed ritual sacrifice under the Prevention and Prohibition of Human Sacrifice Act, but rights groups say enforcement gaps remain and many cases go unreported due to fear of reprisals. (italics and bold letter type added by the webmaster FVDK).

Source: Kabaka Condemns Ritual Killings, Urges Protection of Children

Ritual murder in Sierra Leone: ‘Murder for black magic’

Unfortunately, murders for ritualistic purposes are not an exception in the West African country of Sierra Leone even though reported cases are relatively scarce. But, as in many other African countries, there might be a substantial gap between reported cases and the reality. Cases may go unreported for various reasons: protection of the perpetrator or the person who ordered the crime for ritualistic purposes, fear of reprisal, or simply because the victim of the crime was successfully hidden, e.g. in a dense forest area.

The article below is a living testimony that also in Sierra Leone the trade in human body parts makes innocent victims. The criminalization of what was once a traditional ceremony—albeit a deadly one—is not limited to Sierra Leone, unfortunately. The BBC investigation below exposes the grim reality of contemporary ritual killings for individual, personal gain: get-rich-quick schemes, increased social status, or for political purposes.

Warning: some readers may find the following articles disturbing because of their graphic contents.
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Hunting down those who kill people to sell their body parts for ‘magic charms’

Papayo’s mother Sally Kalokoh has not come to terms with her son’s death and wants his killers found

Published: November 24, 2025
By: BBC – Tyson Conteh, Sierra Leone

With many families left traumatised by killings apparently linked to supposed magic rituals in Sierra Leone, BBC Africa Eye looks into those behind the trade in human body parts.

Warning: This article contains details some readers may find disturbing.

The mother of an 11-year-old boy murdered as part of a suspected black magic killing four years ago is devastated that no-one has yet been brought to justice for his death.

“Today I’m in pain. They killed my child and now there is just silence,” Sallay Kalokoh told BBC Africa Eye, explaining how her son Papayo was found with parts of his body removed, including his vital organs, eyes and one arm.

He had gone out to sell fish at the market and never came back. 

His family searched for him for two weeks – and finally found his mutilated corpse at the bottom of a well.

“We always tell our children to be careful. If you are selling, don’t go to a corner or take gifts from strangers. It happens frequently in this country,” Ms Kalokoh said.

This murder in my hometown of Makeni, in central Sierra Leone, has haunted me as we often hear of reports of killings linked to black magic, also known as juju, that are never followed up or properly investigated by the authorities.

In Papayo’s case, the police did not even confirm that it was a “ritual killing” – when a person is murdered so that parts of their body can be used in so-called magic rituals by illicit juju practitioners.

They promise things like prosperity and power to clients who pay large sums in the false belief that human body parts can make such charms more potent.

But with the authorities severely under-resourced – there is only one pathologist in a country that has a population of 8.9 million – it is often impossible to gather the evidence needed to track down the culprits.

Belief in witchcraft is also so deeply ingrained in Sierra Leone, even among many police officers, that there is often a fear of pursuing cases further – and most go unsolved.

But I wanted to find out more about this underground trade in human body parts that leaves tragedy in its wake.

Our BBC Africa Eye team was able to find two people who claimed they were juju practitioners and offered to obtain body parts for ritual purposes.

Both said they were part of much larger networks – and one boasted that he had powerful clients across West Africa. The BBC was unable to verify these claims.

One member of our team went undercover, using the name Osman, to pose as a politician who wanted to achieve power through human sacrifice.

We first travelled to a remote area of Kambia district, in the north of the country near the Guinean border, to meet the juju man in his secret shrine – an area in dense bush where he consulted with his clients.

Calling himself Kanu, he wore a ceremonial red mask covering his whole face to conceal his identity and boasted of his political connections.

“I was working with some big, big politicians in Guinea, Senegal and Nigeria. We have our team. Sometimes during election time, at night, this place is full of people,” he claimed.

Election season is regarded by some as a particularly dangerous time when parents have been warned to take special care of their children because of the heightened risk of abductions.

On a second visit, Kanu became more confident and showed Osman what he said was evidence of his trade – a human skull.

“You see this? This belongs to someone. I dried it for them. It is a woman’s skull. I am expecting the person to pick this up today or tomorrow.”

He also pointed to a pit behind his shrine: “This is where we hang human parts. We slaughter here, and the blood goes down there… Even big chiefs, when they want power, come here. I give them what they want.”

When Osman specified that he wanted limbs from a woman to be used in a ritual, Kanu got down to business: “The price of a woman is 70m leones [£2,500; $3,000].”

Sierra Leone is one of the world’s poorest countries and is recovering from the legacy of a brutal 11-year civil war

Anxious not to put anyone at risk, we did not meet Kanu again. He may have been a scammer, but we handed over our evidence to the local police to investigate further.

Such juju men sometimes refer to themselves as herbalists, the name given to healers who use traditional medicine often made from local plants to treat common illnesses.

World Health Organization data shows that Sierra Leone – which suffered a brutal civil war in the 1990s and was at the centre of the Ebola epidemic a decade ago – had around 1,000 registered doctors in 2022, compared to reported estimates of 45,000 traditional healers.

Most people in the West African nation rely on these healers, who also help with mental health issues and treat their patients in shrines where there is an element of mysticism and spiritualism culturally associated with their craft and the remedies they sell.

Sheku Tarawallie, president of Sierra Leone’s Council of Traditional Healers, is adamant that “diabolic” juju men like Kanu are giving healers a bad name.

“We are trying very hard to clear our image. The ordinary person doesn’t understand, so they class us [all] as bad herbalists. One rotting fish can destroy the batch of fish… We are healers, we are not killers,” he told BBC Africa Eye.

Mr Tarawallie is in fact trying to work with the government and another non-governmental organisation to open a traditional medicine clinic to treat patients.

It was those with a lust for power and money who were often behind the ritual killings, he believed.

“When somebody wants to become a leader… they remove parts from human beings. They use that one as a sacrifice. Burn people, use their ashes for power. Use their oil for power.”

The number of ritual killings in Sierra Leone, where most people identify as Muslim or Christian, is not known.

“In most African countries, ritual murders are not officially recorded as a separate or sub-category of homicide,” Emmanuel Sarpong Owusu, a lecturer at the UK’s Arden University, told the BBC.

“Some are misclassified or misreported as accidents, deaths resulting from attacks by wild animals, suicides, natural deaths… Most perpetrators – possibly 90% – are not apprehended.”

When we found another suspected supplier of body parts, he was located in a suburb of the capital, Freetown, called Waterloo, which is notorious for drug abuse and other crime.

“I’m not alone, I have up to 250 herbalists working under my banner,” the man calling himself Idara told Osman, who was again undercover and wearing a secret camera.

“There are no human parts that we don’t work with. Once we call for a specific body part, then they bring it. We share the work,” Idara said.

He went on to explain how some of his collaborators were good at capturing people – and on Osman’s second visit played a voice message from one of them who claimed they were prepared to start going out every night in search of a victim.

If you’re outside the UK, you can watch the documentary on YouTube

Osman told him not to proceed yet but when he later received a call from Idara claiming his team had identified a victim, we contacted Police Commissioner Ibrahim Sama.

He decided to organise a raid – but said his officers would not do so without the involvement of Mr Tarawallie, who often assists the police on such operations.

“When we got intelligence that there is a particular dangerous witchdoctor operating a shrine, we will work with the traditional healers,” said an officer on the raid, Assistant Superintendent Aliu Jallo.

He went on to express the superstitions some officers have about tackling rogue herbalists: “I will not go and provoke situations. I know that they have their own powers that are beyond my knowledge.”

After Idara was captured – discovered hiding in the roof clutching a knife – Mr Tarawallie began searching the property for evidence, saying there were human bones, human hair and piles of what looked like dirt from cemeteries.

This was enough for the police to arrest Idara and two other men, who were charged in June with practising sorcery as well as being in possession of traditional weapons used in ritual killings. They pleaded not guilty to the charges and have since been granted bail, pending further investigations.

The police raided this house in Waterloo and arrested the occupants, including Idara, who were later charged under anti-witchcraft laws

As we never heard back from the police in Kambia about Kanu, I tried to call him myself to challenge him about the allegations directly, but he was unreachable.

There are occasions when even high-profile cases appear to stall. Two years ago, a university lecturer went missing in Freetown and his body was later found buried in what police say was the shrine of a herbalist in Waterloo.

The case was referred in August 2023 by a magistrate to the High Court for trial, but two sources have told the BBC it has not been pursued so far and those detained by police have been released on bail.

My family is facing similar hurdles finding justice. In May, during our BBC investigation, my 28-year-old cousin Fatmata Conteh was murdered in Makeni.

A hairdresser and mother of two, her body was dumped the day after her birthday by the side of the road where a resident told the BBC two other bodies had been found in recent weeks.

Several of her front teeth were missing, leading the community to believe it was a ritual killing.

“She was a lady that never did harm. She was very peaceful and hard-working,” said one mourner as family, friends and colleagues gathered for a big funeral at her local mosque.

We may never know the true motive for Fatmata’s murder. The family paid for her body to be transported to Freetown for an autopsy – something the authorities could not afford to do – but the post-mortem was inconclusive and no arrests have yet been made.

As is the case for Papayo’s mother, the lack of closure and feeling of abandonment by the police fuels fear and terror in poor communities like Makeni.

Additional reporting by Chris Alcock and Luis Barrucho

Source: Hunting down those who kill people to sell their body parts for ‘magic charms’

Also:

‘Murder for black magic’: when body parts are sold for ‘magical amulets’

A series of murders suspected of being caused by black magic rituals has shaken Sierra Leone

“Murder for black magic”: The horrific stories in Africa where body parts are sold for ‘magical amulets’

Published: November 26, 2025
By: Vox News 

Four years ago, 11-year-old Papayo was killed in a crime believed to have been part of a black magic ritual. His mother, Sallay Kalokoh, is devastated that no one has yet been brought to justice. Papayo was found butchered at the bottom of a well, with body parts removed, including vital organs, eyes and one arm. He had gone to sell fish at the market and never returned.

“We always advise children to be careful. If you sell something, don’t go to some remote corner and don’t accept gifts from strangers. This happens a lot in this country,” Kalokoh said.

Papayo’s murder in the central city of Makeni is just one of many suspected cases of black magic (juju) that are often not investigated or pursued by authorities. In his case, police never confirmed that it was a “ritual killing.”

The dark market for body parts

Juju practitioners promise prosperity and power to clients who pay large sums, believing that human body parts make their spells more powerful. However, with authorities having limited resources – just one pathologist for a population of 8.9 million – it is difficult to gather evidence to prosecute the perpetrators.

Belief in witchcraft is so ingrained in Sierra Leone, even among some police officers, that there is often a fear of pursuing cases, and most remain unsolved.

According to a BBC Africa Eye investigation, the team managed to contact two people who claimed to be juju practitioners and offered body parts for rituals. They said they were part of larger networks and one claimed to have powerful clients in West Africa, but the BBC was unable to verify these claims.

A team reporter went by the name Osman, posing as a politician seeking power through human sacrifice. In a remote area of ??Kambia district, he met a practitioner who wore a red ceremonial mask and threatened to work with top politicians in Guinea, Senegal, and Nigeria. He showed a human skull and a pit where body parts were placed.

When Osman asked for body parts from a woman for the ritual, the practitioner estimated the price at 70 million leones (around £2,500 / $3,000). For the safety of the team, the BBC did not meet the practitioner again, but handed over the evidence to the local police.

The role of traditional healers

Some practitioners are also called traditional healers and use plants to treat common ailments. Sierra Leone has about 1,000 registered doctors and about 45,000 traditional healers, who often also help with mental health issues.

Sheku Tarawallie, president of the Traditional Healers Council, points out that “evil” practitioners give all healers a bad name: “We are healers, not killers. One rotten fish can spoil all the wheat… We are trying to clean up our image.”

He believes that behind the ritual killings are those who covet power and money “when someone wants to become a leader… they remove parts from people. They use them as sacrifices, they burn people, they use the ashes and oil for power.”

Police operations and arrests

A suspected supplier was found in Waterloo, a Freetown neighborhood known for crime and drug use. He claimed to have 250 healers working under him and could provide any body part required.

The police, in collaboration with Tarawallie, organized a raid. Idara was caught hiding on the roof with a knife. Bones, human hair, and cemetery soil were found on the property. He and two others were charged with practicing witchcraft and possessing ritual weapons. They pleaded not guilty and were released on bail.

Other cases and lack of justice

Two years ago, a university lecturer disappeared in Freetown and was later found in a ritual square. Families like Papayo’s and those of her 28-year-old cousin Fatmata Conteh, who was killed in Makeni, face the same obstacles to justice. The autopsy was inconsistent and there were no arrests.

The market for body parts for witchcraft rituals in Sierra Leone remains secretive, dangerous and largely unsolved. A lack of resources, deep-rooted belief in witchcraft and challenges to proper investigation leave communities impoverished and terrified, as families seek justice for their loved ones.

Source: “Murder for black magic”: The horrific stories in Africa where body parts are sold for ‘magical amulets’

And:

Human Sacrifice in Sierra Leone Driven by Black Magic Practices

Published: November 26, 2025
By: Khaborwala International Desk

The superstition surrounding black magic remains deeply rooted in Sierra Leone, where numerous families have suffered killings linked to the illegal trade in human body parts. Shocking details have emerged in an investigation by BBC Africa Eye.

Four years ago, 11-year-old Papayo was murdered in the name of black magic. His mother, Sallai Kaloka, is still waiting for justice. She told the BBC, “I am in great pain. They killed my child, and now there is only silence.”

Sallai said Papayo never returned home after she left for the market to sell fish. When his body was found, vital organs, his eyes, and one hand had been removed. After being missing for two weeks, his mutilated body was discovered in an abandoned well.

She said, “We always warn our children—don’t go to deserted places, be cautious before accepting anything from strangers. Incidents like this happen frequently here.”

According to Sallai, such killings are common in their town, Makeni. Police often do not even classify them as ritual killings. Juju practitioners use human body parts for charms or rituals and lure clients by promising wealth or power. With only one pathologist for a population of 8.9 million, proper investigations are nearly impossible.

Belief in black magic is so strong in Sierra Leone that even police officers are often afraid to investigate these cases, leaving most crimes unresolved. BBC Africa Eye found two individuals who claimed to be juju practitioners and offered to supply human body parts.

One of them said they had clients across several West African countries. A BBC Africa Eye member, disguised as a politician named Osman, travelled to Kambia district near the Guinea border to meet a juju practitioner named Kanu, whose face was covered with a red cloth throughout the meeting.

Kanu said, “I have worked with major politicians in Guinea, Senegal, and Nigeria. People flock here during election periods.” He then showed a dried human skull, claiming, “This belonged to a woman. Someone will take it within a few days.” According to him, female body parts cost 70 million leones, or around 3,000 dollars.

For safety reasons, the BBC made no further contact with him. The collected information has been handed to the police.

Many juju practitioners in Sierra Leone identify themselves as herbalists. Yet, as of 2022, the country had only about 1,000 registered doctors, compared to nearly 45,000 traditional healers. Many people seek help from these healers for mental health and other issues.

Sheku Tarawali, president of the Sierra Leone Council of Traditional Healers, said black magic practitioners like Kanu are tarnishing the reputation of herbalists. He accused some individuals of committing these murders for power and money.

BBC Africa Eye also identified another suspected supplier of body parts in Waterloo. The man, using the alias “Idara”, claimed to have 250 witchdoctors and spirit practitioners working under him and said they could provide any body part if required.

During one meeting, he played a voice note from an associate saying they were ready to hunt for a “victim” that night. After receiving this information, Police Commissioner Ibrahim Sama launched a raid with Sheku Tarawali and a specialist team. Human bones, hair, and various body parts were recovered.

Earlier, the body of a university lecturer had been found in a temple in Waterloo. The case went to the High Court but never progressed, and the suspects were released on bail.

During the BBC investigation, 28-year-old Fatmata Conteh was murdered in Makeni. Her body was found by the roadside the day after her birthday, with several front teeth missing—leading locals to believe it was a ritual killing. Her family sent the body to Freetown for an autopsy at their own expense, but no findings emerged.

Like Papayo’s mother, many families continue to suffer without justice. Police inaction and a culture of fear have intensified widespread panic across the region.

Khaborwala/TSN

Source: Human Sacrifice in Sierra Leone Driven by Black Magic Practices

Lagos State Governor Sanwo-Olu, others seek continental battle against ritual killings

See my recent posts dated October 24, Lagos Calls for United African Action Against Ritual Killings, and October 26, Liberia’s Bishop Kortu Brown calls for Africa-wide campaign to end ritualistic killings at colloquium in Nigeria, on the same topic.
(webmaster FVDK)

Sanwo-Olu, others seek continental battle against human trafficking, ritual killings

Published: October 28, 2025
By: Adebisi Onanuga – The Nation Online, Nigeria

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State yesterday urged African leaders to form a united continental front against human trafficking and ritual killings.

He described human trafficking and ritual killings as “heinous crimes that strip victims of their dignity and humanity.”

The governor spoke through the Secretary to the Lagos State Government, Mrs. Abimbola Salu-Hundeyin, at the First Annual Africa Colloquium Against Human Trafficking.

The colloquium was convened by the state’s Ministry of Justice and held at Radisson Blu Hotel, Isaac John Street, GRA, Ikeja.

Governor Sanwo-Olu said the fight against ritual abuse and human trafficking must transcend borders, institutions, and communities if Africa must reclaim its moral integrity.

“Human trafficking is not an abstract problem — it is real and close to home.

“It affects millions across Africa, especially women and children, through forced labour, sexual exploitation, domestic servitude, and ritual abuse. Behind every statistic is a name, a face, and a story of pain that we must never ignore.”

The governor described the colloquium, themed ‘A United Front Against Ritual Abuse and Sacrifice’, as a “continental rallying point for Africa’s moral awakening,” stressing that collaboration among governments, NGOs, law enforcement, and communities is key to dismantling trafficking networks.

According to him, “The words ‘A United Front’ remind us that this evil knows no boundaries. It can only be defeated through shared action, intelligence, and compassion.

He  condemned the myths and superstitions fuelling ritual killings, describing them as “barbaric relics that have no place in a modern, progressive Africa.”

“Governments must work with civil society, religious and traditional leaders, and even the private sector to expose traffickers and protect victims”, he said

Sanwo-Olu emphasized that public enlightenment remains crucial in breaking the chain of silence that sustains human trafficking and ritual practices.

“We must educate our communities about the signs of trafficking and empower them to report suspicious activities.

 “We must also strengthen our laws to ensure offenders are swiftly prosecuted while victims receive proper care and rehabilitation.”

The Governor noted that the Lagos State Task Force Against Human Trafficking, in partnership with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and international organisations, has intensified prosecution, public education, and survivor rehabilitation.

“But the government alone cannot win this fight. It demands a coalition of justice ministries, law enforcement, community leaders, and faith-based organisations.”

“We must defeat these dangerous myths that equate human life with power, success, or protection.

“Our progress must be built on knowledge, empathy, and faith in lawful advancement — not blood”, he said.

“Let this colloquium mark the day we moved from words to work.

“Together, as one united front, we will protect our people, punish the perpetrators, and restore dignity to those harmed”, he said.

“This is our moment to declare that our people are not for sale, our children are not sacrifices, and our future will never be built on fear or blood,” he said.

The Governor affirmed Lagos State’s commitment to lead Africa’s regional campaign against human trafficking and ritual abuse.

The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), in his address at the colloquium  reaffirmed federal government’s commitment to intensifying the fight against human trafficking, ritual exploitation, and migrant smuggling across Africa describing them as “crimes that diminish humanity and betray the principles of human rights.”

The AGF who was represented by Team Lead for Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants (TIPSOM) at the Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Ezinne Nwokoro, said the government is determined to dismantle trafficking networks through coordinated legal, diplomatic, and community-based responses.

Mrs Nwokoro said the Attorney-General of the Federation has prioritized anti-trafficking reform through a combination of legislative review, enhanced partnership with NAPTIP, and expanded international cooperation frameworks.

“These reforms are building systems that not only punish offenders but prevent trafficking before it begins,” she said.

“We are creating a future where justice is accessible, survivors are supported, and the vulnerable are no longer prey.”

She declared the federal government’s full support for the outcomes of the colloquium and urged all participants to move from dialogue to action.

“This is not just another event,” she said, adding ,“it is a call to conscience — a gathering of people working, in different ways, to confront the painful reality of human trafficking, ritual abuse, and human sacrifice in Africa.”

According to her, ritual-linked trafficking represents an even darker evolution of the crime. “Traffickers no longer just exploit poverty and desperation — they exploit belief systems and cultural fears.

“Victims are often made to take oaths or undergo rituals designed to enslave them psychologically, making escape almost impossible. We’ve seen this pattern in cases within Nigeria and from other African countries”, she said.

Mrs. Nwokoro noted that this emerging dimension makes collaboration indispensable, adding, “if traffickers can collaborate across borders, so must we.

“We need more than laws; we need communities that are vigilant, justice systems that protect, and survivor voices that lead.

“Let this not just be a conference,” she said, “but a call to action — one guided by the stories of survivors and the responsibility we all share to protect them.

“The fight against human trafficking is not one government’s struggle; it is humanity’s shared duty. Together, we can build an Africa where no one is for sale, no one is sacrificed, and every life is valued,”, he said.

The Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Lawal Pedro, (SAN), urged African nations to unite in action against the growing scourge of ritual killings and human trafficking, describing the crimes as “commercialised evil” that thrive on poverty, desperation, and silence.”

Pedro said the event was “not just another conference but a continental call to conscience aimed at reclaiming the sanctity of human life in Africa.

“Ritual abuse and human sacrifices are not myths. They are real, expanding, and destroying lives across our communities,” the Attorney-General declared.

Pedro cited disturbing cases across Nigeria that reveal the deepening connection between human trafficking and ritual crimes.

He recalled recent incidents including the abduction and murder of two seven-year-old cousins, Chizaram and Chidinma Onuche, in Port Harcourt; the killing of a college student in Ilorin for ritual purposes; and the arrest of two pastors in Rivers State found with coffins and skulls.

“These are not isolated tragedies,” he said.

According to him, “the National Bureau of Statistics recorded over 150 ritual killings in six months, many involving youths deceived by the false promise of quick wealth.”(italics added by the webmaster FVDK).

He lamented that human trafficking has evolved into a global, organised, and highly profitable enterprise.

 He described human trafficking as a high-profit, low-risk crime linked to organised criminal networks.

He said globally, profits from human trafficking are estimated at 236 billion dollars annually,” he said.

Pedro, who also chairs the Lagos State Task Force Against Human Trafficking, outlined the state’s multi-pronged response to the menace.

He said: “between 2022 and 2024, over 4,700 victims were rescued and supported, while five million residents were reached through community awareness campaigns.”

He  highlighted the enactment of the Lagos State Organ Harvesting Prohibition Law 2024, which criminalises organ trafficking and imposes severe penalties on offenders, including medical professionals involved in illegal human organ trade.

Pedro stressed that no single nation can win the battle alone, urging African countries to collaborate across borders in prevention, prosecution, and victim protection.

 “This evil will continue to thrive where nations fail to collaborate,” he said. “Africa must rise — not in rhetoric but in responsibility.”

He commended Pepperdine University and the Sudreau Global Justice Institute for partnering with Lagos since 2022 on justice reforms, adding that their collaboration had grown into a continental mission against human trafficking and ritual crimes.

“Let history say that from Lagos in 2025, Africa took a stand and never turned back,” he said. “Let us refuse to accept the killing of our children as normal, reject the exploitation of women, and silence that empowers crime. When Africa chooses unity over isolation, we can protect the vulnerable and safeguard human dignity.”

The Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Kazeem Alogba, in his address, described human trafficking and ritual abuse as a global pandemic deeply rooted in the history of slavery.

He called for stronger community vigilance, legal enforcement, and international collaboration to eradicate the menace.

Justice Alogba urged local communities to take the lead in identifying and reporting suspicious activities. “If the community does not perceive human trafficking and ritual abuse as wrong, perpetrators will continue to go unpunished. Every citizen must be their neighbour’s keeper,” he added.

Justice Alogba lamented that centuries after the abolition of slavery, its modern offshoots — human trafficking, ritual killings, and organ trade — still thrive under different guises for economic purposes.

 “Ritual abuse and sacrifice are grim offshoots of slavery, initially driven by economic motives,” he stated.

The Chief Judge stressed that the problem cannot be effectively addressed without tackling the social and cultural beliefs that continue to justify the exploitation of human beings.

“Our cultural ethos must be properly investigated. The use of human beings for rituals or any form of abuse, no matter how it is rationalized, is evil. The fight must start from our communities,” he said.

Justice Alogba  emphasized the need for proper training and motivation for law enforcement and investigative officers, describing them as the “foot soldiers” in the anti-trafficking campaign. According to him, traffickers are now well-organized and heavily funded, requiring equal sophistication in combating their operations.

While acknowledging the efforts of the Lagos State Government, Justice Alogba commended the legislature for enacting stiff penalties against offenders and pledged that the judiciary would enforce the law with strictness.

 “The Lagos judiciary will ensure that anyone found guilty of trafficking or ritual abuse faces stringent punishment in accordance with the law,” he assured.

The Chief Judge called for broader collaboration beyond Africa, noting that trafficking networks have become intercontinental. He concluded by stressing that sustained public sensitization and awareness are critical to winning the battle.

“Government, communities, and individuals must unite against this social pandemic. Sensitization and education remain our strongest tools,” he said.

The Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Mrs. Binta  Bello warned that the growing nexus between ritual abuse, human sacrifice, and human trafficking poses a grave threat to Africa’s moral fabric and security.

The NAPTIP DG who was represented by the Director of Intelligence, Mr. Josiah Emerole, described ritual-linked trafficking as one of the “darkest and most complex forms of human exploitation” that has for too long escaped direct confrontation.”

“The intersection between ritual abuse and human trafficking is not theoretical — it is a lived reality for countless victims,” she said. “In Nigeria and across West Africa, young people are being trapped in cycles of exploitation by fear, superstition, and coercion disguised as culture.”

Bello explained that from the early years of NAPTIP’s operations, investigators confronted the use of juju oaths, fetish rituals, and sacrifices to silence victims trafficked abroad for sexual exploitation. “Victims were forced to take deadly oaths before native priests, binding them into fear and obedience,” she said. “These rituals were more powerful than chains; they enslaved the mind.”

Although NAPTIP has since achieved major progress — including the 2017 intervention of the Benin Monarch to abolish ritual oaths — Bello lamented that ritual abuse has not disappeared.

“It has simply evolved, travelling across borders and taking new forms in destination countries,” she said.

She cited a 2008 incident in which a voodoo priest arrested by NAPTIP died mysteriously in custody after warning officers not to cross certain rivers — a case that led to the arrest of NAPTIP officers by police investigators.

“Such incidents complicate prosecutions, stall investigations, and sometimes erode public confidence,” she explained. “These crimes are not just spiritual or cultural; they are legal and human rights issues that demand coordinated action.”

Bello also revealed that investigating ritual-linked trafficking remains one of the most challenging aspects of law enforcement.

The NAPTIP boss cited data from the National Bureau of Statistics showing that over 150 ritual killings were recorded in the first half of 2025 alone, with women and youths as major victims. The National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), she noted, also documented over 168 ritual-related deaths in 2022 and nearly 100 in 2024.(italics added by the webmaster FVDK)

“These are not random acts of violence,” she stressed. “They are symptoms of a deeper disease — poverty, inequality, erosion of values, and belief in the efficacy of human sacrifice as a path to success. Weak law enforcement and judicial bottlenecks have further emboldened perpetrators.”

According to her, the Lagos colloquium marks a historic moment for Africa’s anti-trafficking movement.

Bello said the gathering aligns with Nigeria’s National Action Plan on Human Trafficking (2022–2026), which rests on five pillars: Policy, Prevention, Protection, Prosecution, and Partnerships.

Bello pledged NAPTIP’s full commitment to implementing the outcomes of the colloquium in collaboration with domestic and international partners.

“By putting ritual abuse at the centre of this global discussion, we are redefining the future of counter-trafficking work,” she affirmed.

 “The lives of our children and women are too precious to be sacrificed at the altar of greed or superstition. The dignity of our people is sacred — and the cost of inaction is far too high.”

Director of the Sudreau Global Justice Institute, Pepperdine University, USA, Prof. Cameron Collum, also called for a united African response to end ritual abuse and human sacrifice, describing the practices as “pure evil” that must be confronted through collective action, policy reform, and justice system strengthening across the continent.

Prof. Collum praised Nigeria’s renowned hospitality and the choice of Lagos as the host city, saying the state represents “the heartbeat of Africa” and a continental leader capable of influencing change.

He explained that Pepperdine University, based in Los Angeles, California, operates on five continents and is committed to using academic resources to make tangible social impact.

“We don’t want to be a university lost in academic theories; we want to work alongside leaders to achieve real results,” he said.

According to him, Pepperdine’s partnership with Africa began over 20 years ago in Uganda, when the university helped establish a fast-track juvenile justice system that expedited trials for detained minors. The initiative, he said, led to the creation of a broader plea-bargaining system that improved access to justice and reduced prolonged pre-trial detentions.

“Uganda’s success story inspired other countries to replicate similar reforms, and today, we are working with nearly 20 African nations on justice initiatives — including anti-human trafficking and rule of law projects,” Collum noted.

He stressed that while human trafficking is widely acknowledged and addressed globally, ritual abuse and human sacrifice remain largely unspoken issues. “Everywhere I go, leaders acknowledge ritual killings as a real problem, yet few programs tackle it. This conference aims to change that by starting a Pan-African conversation to end these atrocities,” he declared.

Collum said the two-day colloquium was designed to be action-oriented rather than academic, bringing together about 200 delegates from 15 African countries, including policymakers, judges, prosecutors, NGOs, and community leaders.

“With collaboration, courage, and leadership from places like Nigeria, I believe we can end the evil of ritual sacrifice once and for all,” he concluded.

Source: Sanwo-Olu, others seek continental battle against human trafficking, ritual killings

Liberia’s Bishop Kortu Brown calls for Africa-wide campaign to end ritualistic killings at colloquium in Nigeria

Referring to my recent October 24 post on the same topic, Lagos Calls for United African Action Against Ritual Killings, I draw attention to the below presented article in Liberia‘s leading newspaper, Front Page Africa. It is encouraging that more and more people are so worried about the scourge of ritual killings on the continent, demanding an end to these cruel, inhumane, outdated and criminal practices.
(webmaster FVDK).

Bishop Kortu Brown Calls for Africa-wide Campaign to End Ritualistic Killings at Pepperdine University Human Trafficking Colloquium in Nigeria

Published: October 27, 2025
By: Front Page Africa, Liberia

Brewerville – Faith leaders have been challenged to become agents of change by organizing themselves into a Campaign across the Continent of Africa to ward-off the practice of ritualistic killing and human sacrifice.

The call was made by Bishop Kortu K. Brown, the president of Liberia Council of Churches in Lagos, Nigeria on Friday, October 24, 2025 during a 2-day Colloquium organized by the Sudreau Global Justice Institute at Pepperdine University based in California, USA and Nigeria’s Lagos State Ministry of Justice in the inaugural 2025 Africa Colloquium Against Human Trafficking: A United Front Against Ritual Abuse and Sacrifice.

Bishop Brown who spoke at the fourth session of the colloquium which was intended to explore the role of faith leaders and civil society in combating ritual abuse and sacrifice. The session examined the spiritual dimensions of the practice, including the influence of mysticism and the involvement of traditional healers, witch doctors and diviners in the act of ritual abuse and sacrifice.

The session presented Christian and Muslim perspectives that strongly denounce ritual abuse and sacrifice and emphasized the importance of faith leaders in guiding ethical responses and mobilizing their communities, amongst others.

“This is a serious fight”, Bishop Brown asserted, “and it is as old as Africa itself. If we must address, we must properly mobilize and organize religious leaders across the continent to lead a campaign at the regional, national and community levels to stem the practices of ritualistic killings and human sacrifice in Africa”, he added. The faith actors at the gathering reminded participants that the holy books abhor evil including the shedding of innocent blood and that religious leaders are required by Scriptures to speak out for those who cannot speak for themselves, defend the rights of the destitute and the rights of the poor and needy according to Proverbs Chapter 31 verses 8 and 9.

On the question of why ritual abuse and sacrifice is so prevalent in countries with strong Christian and Muslim demographics, Bishop Brown attributed it to many followers of Christianity lacking full faith in God, desiring quick solutions and the beliefs, practices and norms of local communities where they reside that they have not excused themselves, amongst others.

“One of the elements of culture that trigger ritual abuse and sacrifice is the belief that the acts bring benefits”, he said, arguing that “many people believe that ritual abuse and sacrifice can bring them good fortunes, children, appease deities for opportunities, good harvest, victory during electoral processes, etc”

“In Liberia”, he argued, “every time there is an election, stories of ritualistic killings and missing people abound everywhere”. He referenced the campaign he led about four years ago in the country when reports of missing persons were being reported everywhere. (italics added by the webmaster, FVDK).

“People want power but they want other people’s children’s blood to be used to help them acquire political power. This is wrong”, he said, adding, religious leaders must rise across the continent and confront this menace through community sensitization, challenging harmful practices, reframing beliefs and norms, supporting victims and collaborating with other actors to address the practice.”

The organizers, in a statement to participants, hope that the event will mark a critical moment for the future of human trafficking on the African continent. The Executive Director of Sudreau Global Justice Institute, Prof. Cameron McCollum and Attorney General & Commissioner for Justice of Lagos State of Nigeria, Honorable Lawal Pedro San, FCIArb further hoped that the colloquium provided a space for leaders, advocates, practitioners and policymakers to develop strategies to eliminate ritual abuse and sacrifice in Africa and beyond.

The conference was attended by about 200 persons from more than 15 countries in Africa and the United States. The results of the colloquium will be analyzed and reviewed by participants to final a roadmap to deterring ritual abuse and sacrifice across the continent.

Liberia was represented by Church Aid Inc. (CAI) and the Human Trafficking Task Force of Liberia based at the Ministry of Labor of Liberia.

Source: Bishop Kortu Brown Calls for Africa-wide Campaign to End Ritualistic Killings at Pepperdine University Human Trafficking Colloquium in Nigeria

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Lagos Calls for United African Action Against Ritual Killings

What can I add? I am so glad with the mounting interest in the importance of the fight against ritual killing, human sacrifice, witchcraft and superstition! Read the good news below.
(webmaster FVDK)

Lagos AG, CJ call for continental front to confront ritual killings, trafficking

Published: October 23, 2025
By: Israel Arogbonlo – Nigerian Tribune

Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Lawal Pedro, SAN

The growing scourge of ritual killings and human trafficking, described as commercialised evil thriving on poverty and silence, has drawn a firm call for united continental action from the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Lawal Pedro, SAN and the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Kazeem Alogba.

Speaking at the inaugural Africa Colloquium Against Human Trafficking: A United Front Against Ritual Abuse and Sacrifice in Lagos, Pedro stressed that the event was not merely a conference, but a continental call to conscience aimed at reclaiming the sanctity of human life in Africa.

“Ritual abuse and human sacrifices are not myths. They are real, expanding, and destroying lives across our communities”, the Attorney-General declared.

He warned that “Silence has never protected the vulnerable, it only protects the oppressor,” and urged all stakeholders to break that silence with truth, collaboration, and action.

Pedro stressed the disturbing convergence of human trafficking and ritual crimes, citing recent, high-profile tragedies across Nigeria.

These included the abduction and murder of two seven-year-old cousins, Chizaram and Chidinma Onuche, in Port Harcourt; the ritual-related killing of a college student in Ilorin; and the arrest of two Rivers State pastors found in possession of human skulls and coffins.

He backed his warnings with statistics, noting that the National Bureau of Statistics recorded over 150 ritual killings in six months (bold letter-type added by the webmaster FVDK) many of which involved youths lured by the false promise of quick wealth.

The Attorney-General pointed out that human trafficking has evolved into a global, highly profitable enterprise.

He cited global estimates placing the profits from human trafficking at a staggering $236 billion annually, confirming its status as a high-profit, low-risk crime linked to organised criminal networks.

Pedro, who also chairs the Lagos State Task Force Against Human Trafficking, detailed the state’s proactive steps to combat the menace.

According to the AG, “Between 2022 and 2024, the state rescued and supported over 4,700 victims and reached five million residents through extensive community awareness campaigns.

“Furthermore, Lagos trained 109 local government focal persons as anti-trafficking advocates and expanded shelter facilities for survivors.”

He also pointed out the enactment of the Lagos State Organ Harvesting Prohibition Law 2024.

This legislation, he said, criminalises organ trafficking and imposes severe penalties on offenders, including medical professionals involved in the illegal human organ trade.

Stressing the need for borderless cooperation, Pedro insisted that no single nation can defeat crime alone.

“This evil will continue to thrive where nations fail to collaborate. Africa must rise, not in rhetoric but in responsibility,” he posited.

Pedro commended international partners, Pepperdine University and the Sudreau Global Justice Institute, for their collaboration on justice reforms, which has now grown into a continental mission.

Reinforcing the call to action, the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Kazeem Alogba, described human trafficking and ritual abuse as a global pandemic deeply rooted in the history of slavery.

He lamented that centuries after slavery’s formal abolition, its modern offshoots, human trafficking, ritual killings, and organ trade, continue to thrive under new guises, primarily for economic gain.

“Human trafficking is a business because financial considerations are involved,” Justice Alogba stated, adding that “Ritual abuse and sacrifice are grim offshoots of slavery, initially driven by economic motives.”

The Chief Judge insisted that an effective solution must address the deep-seated social and cultural beliefs that still attempt to rationalise the exploitation of human beings.

He called for a proper investigation of cultural ethos, stressing that “The use of human beings for rituals or any form of abuse, no matter how it is rationalised, is evil. The fight must start from our communities.”

Justice Alogba urged local communities to serve as the first line of defence by enhancing vigilance and reporting suspicious activities.

“If the community does not perceive human trafficking and ritual abuse as wrong, perpetrators will continue to go unpunished.

Every citizen must be their neighbour’s keeper,” he asserted.

The CJ also called for improved training and motivation for law enforcement and investigative officers, who he termed the foot soldiers in the anti-trafficking campaign, noting that traffickers’ operations are now well-organised and heavily funded.

Pledging the judiciary’s commitment, the Chief Judge assured that the Lagos judiciary would ensure that anyone found guilty of trafficking or ritual abuse faces stringent punishment in accordance with the law.

Source: Lagos AG, CJ call for continental front to confront ritual killings, trafficking

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And – on the same topic:

Lagos Calls for United African Action Against Ritual Killings

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has called for a united continental effort to combat ritual abuse and human sacrifice, emphasizing that the fight cannot be won in isolation but must be pursued collectively across borders, institutions, and communities. Speaking at the opening of the First …

By: TVCNews
Published: October 23, 2025

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has called for a united continental effort to combat ritual abuse and human sacrifice, emphasizing that the fight cannot be won in isolation but must be pursued collectively across borders, institutions, and communities.

Speaking at the opening of the First Annual Africa Colloquium Against Human Trafficking in Lagos, Governor Sanwo-Olu stressed that collaboration is essential, noting that “this evil knows no boundaries.”

‎The Lagos state government through the Ministry of Justice organized the two-day programme in partnership with U.S.-based Pepperdine University, with the theme, “A United Front Against Ritual Abuse and Sacrifice.”

Described as one of the most heinous crimes against humanity, the governor says, “Human trafficking is not an abstract problem. It is real, and it is close to home. It affects millions across Africa especially women and children through forced labour, sexual exploitation, domestic servitude, and the deeply troubling cases of ritual abuse and sacrifice. Behind every statistic is a face, a name, and a story of pain that must never be ignored.”

(….. illegible….) we are strengthening prosecution systems, rehabilitating survivors, and raising public awareness. But the government alone cannot win this fight. It demands a united front, a coalition of justice ministries, law enforcement, traditional and religious leaders, community-based organizations, and the private sector.”

‎The event also serves as a united move to dispel the dangerous myths that wrongly link power, success, or protection to the taking of human life, which fuel ritual abuse.

‎On his part, the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), represented by Ezinne Nwaokoro, says the fight against human trafficking is now a national priority, which is why this colloquium matters.

‎”If traffickers can collaborate across borders, so must we. And beyond just legal tools, we need strong communities, survivor voices, regional partnerships, and a justice system that protects — not traumatises — those who come forward.”

‎The Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Kazeem Alogba, commended the legislature for enacting stiff penalties against offenders and pledged that the judiciary would enforce the law with strictness. “The Lagos judiciary will ensure that anyone found guilty of trafficking or ritual abuse faces stringent punishment in accordance with the law,” he assured.

He also urged local communities to take the lead in identifying and reporting suspicious activities. ‎“If the community does not perceive human trafficking and ritual abuse as wrong, perpetrators will continue to go unpunished. Every citizen must be their neighbour’s keeper,” he added.

‎The Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro, SAN, who also chairs the Lagos State Task Force Against Human Trafficking, outlined the state’s multi-pronged response to the menace. Between 2022 and 2024, he said, over 4,700 victims were rescued and supported, while five million residents were reached through community awareness campaigns. Lagos also trained 109 local government focal persons as anti-trafficking advocates and expanded shelters for survivors.

He further highlighted the enactment of the Lagos State Organ Harvesting Prohibition Law 2024, which criminalises organ trafficking and imposes severe penalties on offenders, including medical professionals involved in illegal human organ trade.

‎“Let history say that from Lagos in 2025, Africa took a stand and never turned back,” he said. “Let us refuse to accept the killing of our children as normal, reject the exploitation of women, and silence that empowers crime. When Africa chooses unity over isolation, we can protect the vulnerable and safeguard human dignity.”

‎The Director of the Sudreau Global Justice Institute, Pepperdine University, USA, Prof. Cameron Collum, called for a united African response to end ritual abuse and human sacrifice, describing the practices as “pure evil” that must be confronted through collective action, policy reform, and justice system strengthening across the continent. ‎ “While human trafficking is widely acknowledged and addressed globally, ritual abuse and human sacrifice remain largely unspoken issues. Everywhere I go, leaders acknowledge ritual killings as a real problem, yet few programs tackle it. This conference aims to change that by starting a Pan-African conversation to end these atrocities,” he declared.

‎The Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Binta Bello, also warned that the growing nexus between ritual abuse, human sacrifice, and human trafficking poses a grave threat to Africa’s moral fabric and security.

(… illegible….) over 150 ritual killings were recorded in the first half of 2025 alone (bold letter-type added by the webmaster FVDK), ‎with women and youths as major victims. The National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), also documented over 168 ritual-related deaths in 2022 and nearly 100 in 2024.

‎According to her, the Lagos colloquium marks a historic moment for Africa’s anti-trafficking movement. “For too long, global discussions on trafficking have focused narrowly on sexual and labour exploitation,” she said. “Today, we are expanding that conversation to include ritual abuse and sacrifice — equally grave violations of human rights and dignity.”

‎The programme brought together about 200 delegates made up of lawyers, policymakers, judges, prosecutors, NGOs, and community leaders, from across the country and 15 African countries, ‎Including Kenya, Uganda, Cameroun, and Tanzania.

‎The conveners say the Colloquium would become an annual event to track progress, strengthen partnerships, and sustain reforms across the continent.

Source: Lagos Calls for United African Action Against Ritual Killings

Liberia: traditional healer jailed five years for manslaughter in Nimba County

This is not a case of ritual murder but there are two reasons why I chose to post this article. First, the phenomenon of superstition entrenched in traditional practices. The victim, who was accidentally killed, believed that he could obtain a protection against bullets. I’m afraid that during the back-to-back civil wars that raged in Liberia between 1989 and 2003 many more men have undergone this ritual in order to become ‘bulletproof’.
Secondly, it is always good to focus on cases of upholding the rule of law in a country which is not known for its impartial justice but where – unfortunately – impunity reigns – at least for the perpetrators of war crimes and human rights violations.
(webmaster FVDK).

Traditional Healer Jailed Five Years for Manslaughter in Nimba County

Published: October 5, 2025
By: Nyantee S. Togba – The Liberian Investigator

SANNIQUELLIE, Nimba County — A traditional healer identified as Madiswon Gaye, popularly known as “Dao-Dao,” has been sentenced to five years in prison after being convicted of manslaughter in connection with the death of a man during a failed gun protection ritual.

The Eighth Judicial Circuit Court in Sanniquellie found Gaye guilty of negligently causing the death of a 32-year-old man while performing what he described as a traditional “bulletproof” preparation. The ruling has reignited debate over the safety and regulation of traditional healing practices in rural Liberia.

Ritual Turns Fatal

According to court records, Gaye conducted the ritual and later fired a gun as part of the protective demonstration, fatally shooting the victim. The court determined that his actions were reckless and violated Liberian law, despite being rooted in customary beliefs.

During the hearing, Gaye expressed remorse for the killing, telling reporters, “I am sorry. This was a mistake. I ask the court and the family for forgiveness.”

Judge: Culture No Defense for Crime

Presiding Judge Papa Suah said the evidence clearly established Gaye’s responsibility for the fatal act, emphasizing that cultural traditions cannot excuse unlawful conduct.

“The law is clear—no cultural or traditional practice can justify the taking of a life,” the judge said before handing down the sentence.

County Attorney John Miah welcomed the verdict, describing it as proof of the judiciary’s commitment to upholding the law while respecting Liberia’s diverse traditions.

“This decision shows that even within traditional practices, human life must remain paramount,” Miah said.

Calls for Regulation of Traditional Healers

The case has sparked renewed calls for regulation of traditional healers in Nimba County, where herbal medicine and spiritual rituals remain widespread alternatives to modern healthcare.

Local health officials have urged the Ministry of Health and the Traditional Council to strengthen oversight and provide training to practitioners to prevent future tragedies.

Members of the victim’s family, though still mourning their loss, said they were satisfied with the court’s ruling, calling it “a step toward justice and accountability within Liberia’s traditional health system.”

Source: Traditional Healer Jailed Five Years for Manslaughter in Nimba County