‘I am dev­ast­ated’: Nigerian with albin­ism risks being deported to Uganda under Trump’s asylum crack­down

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This is not the proper place to dwell on the excesses of the Trump Administration. Moreover, I wouldn’t’t have enough time or space to do it. However, the following is obviously a violation of the right to asylum. People with albinism need protection of the state and the community, notably in Africa, where the risks of being attacked, kidnapped, mutilated or murdered for reasons of witchcraft are clearly present given the numerous reported cases. It’s a daily reality for a person living with albinism in Sub-Saharan Africa to fear for one’s life. Hence, it is absolutely understandable that a person with albinism who does not get the protection he or she needs, flees to a place where the superstitious and violent practices as they occur in SSA are absent.

This explains the reason of fleeing to the US by a Nigerian with albinism, named Aisha (real name withheld for private and safety reasons). The Trump Administration’s asylum crackdown shattered her dreams of a quit and peaceful life in the US.

How on earth could one decide to deport her to Uganda, a place known for being unsafe and dangerous for persons with albinism?

Uganda is not a ‘safe third country’ for people living with albinism, whatever the US Depart­ment of Home­land Secur­ity may say. It’s an outright scandal, and human rights violation – unfortunately neither the first nor the last of the Trump Administration.

Moreover, the policy of deporting unwanted persons to a so-called safe third country, often poor countries (lamentably, the US is not the only western country resorting to these practices) has definitely (neo-)colonial characteristics. Another reason to reject it.
(webmaster FVDK)

‘I was dev­ast­ated’: the Nigerian with albin­ism depor­ted under Trump’s asylum crack­down

Published: July 1, 2026
By: Sarah Johnson (name has been changed at the subject’s request) – The Guardian

Grow­ing up and liv­ing with albin­ism in rural Nigeria was tough for Aisha*. She and her two sib­lings with the con­di­tion were shrouded in stigma and lived in con­stant fear of being mutil­ated or killed. Her sis­ter was attacked twice and her brother was kid­napped as a child by people who wanted to sell his body parts.

A bus arrives in Jinja, Uganda, before a march against dis­crim­in­a­tion, held by people with albin­ism and their sup­port­ers to mark Inter­na­tional Albin­ism Aware­ness Day.

Three years ago, Aisha, 35, entered the US via the bor­der with Mex­ico and registered as an asylum seeker. Her brother had already been gran­ted asylum and her sis­ter’s case was soon to be suc­cess­ful, too.

But in March she was informed that her claim would not be heard and that she would be depor­ted to Uganda instead – a coun­try in east Africa deemed safe by the US Depart­ment of Home­land Secur­ity.

“I was dev­ast­ated and shocked when the judge denied my case,” says Aisha. “All the evid­ence was there – my sib­lings were attacked in Nigeria.

“In Uganda the same thing hap­pens, they take people for [witch­craft] rituals and everything. I don’t know what else they needed for me to show them that I have a legit­im­ate case.”

Albin­ism is an inher­ited genetic con­di­tion that reduces the amount of melanin pig­ment formed in the skin, hair and eyes. It occurs in all eth­nic groups throughout the world. In sub­Sa­ha­ran Africa, the pre­val­ence of albin­ism is the highest world­wide, and it affects more than one in 4,000 people in some coun­tries, accord­ing to the World Health Organ­iz­a­tion.

In coun­tries throughout sub­Sa­ha­ran Africa, includ­ing Nigeria and Uganda, people with albin­ism face severe threats, includ­ing ritual killings, rape and mutil­a­tion. These attacks are driven by harm­ful super­sti­tions that their body parts bring wealth, polit­ical suc­cess and good luck.

Aisha’s law­yer, Ravin­dar Arora, who also rep­res­en­ted her two sib­lings, calls the decision to deny her asylum “ridicu­lous”.

“Hav­ing worked as an immig­ra­tion law­yer in the US for 15 years, I’ve got a good sense of what is a win­nable asylum claim and what’s not,” he says. “This should have been a slam dunk.”

He adds that the Trump admin­is­tra­tion’s immig­ra­tion crack­down has been play­ing havoc with people’s lives and his job. “It’s insane. Trump’s first term was not great … attor­ney gen­er­als were pluck­ing out cases, writ­ing their own decisions and over­turn­ing dec­ades of pre­ced­ent in the pro­cess. That was bad enough. This is eas­ily 10 times worse.”

Accord­ing to Ikpon­wosa Ero, dir­ector of advocacy at Under the Same Sun, a char­ity help­ing people with albin­ism, the rise of anti-immig­rant rhet­oric and far­right move­ments in the US and Europe is lead­ing to more asylum claims for people with albin­ism being denied.

“[These cases were suc­cess­ful] up until the last couple of years, with the changes in admin­is­tra­tions world­wide where people are look­ing more inward,” she says. “Before that, we had an estim­ate of an over-90% suc­cess rate. But with the changes in admin­is­tra­tions and polit­ical approaches [that’s no longer the case].”

Under the Trump admin­is­tra­tion, the US has entered into sev­eral new asylum cooper­at­ive agree­ments (ACAs) accords that allow gov­ern­ments to trans­fer asylum seekers to third coun­tries rather than adju­dic­at­ing their claims domest­ic­ally.

Under these arrange­ments, people may be removed to a “safe third coun­try”, even if they have no ties to that nation. One excep­tion to the ACAs is if someone would be per­se­cuted or tor­tured in the third coun­try.

Arora says he sub­mit­ted evid­ence in Aisha’s case show­ing that people with albin­ism are not safe in Uganda. “We even had an expert wit­ness testify, who is from Uganda and who lives with albin­ism. The judge tried to turn that around on us and said she was liv­ing in Uganda, so it must be safe,” he says.

The Ugandan gov­ern­ment’s action plan for per­sons with albin­ism 2020-25 says they are “a vul­ner­able group that faces mul­tiple and inter­sect­ing forms of dis­crim­in­a­tion and human rights viol­a­tions”.

It adds: “They have been sub­jec­ted to dis­crim­in­a­tion, ban­ish­ment, cut­ting of body parts and ampu­ta­tion of limbs, tor­ture, and murder due to … unfoun­ded beliefs [in witch­craft].”

Arora believes Aisha has a strong case and even if it is rejec­ted at the next stage, the Board of Immig­ra­tion Appeals, they will appeal again.

Aisha, who has mar­ried and had a child since she arrived in the US, says: “I don’t even know what to think. I was really hope­ful and then my [asylum request] was denied. Still, I remain hope­ful that I will be able to pur­sue my goals and live a nor­mal life here.”

• This art­icle was amended on 30 June 2026 to remove some per­sonal inform­a­tion.

Source: ‘I was dev­ast­ated’: the Nigerian with albin­ism depor­ted under Trump’s asylum crack­down

Eswatini: Woman with albin­ism recounts escape from ritual murder

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A chilling testimony from a near-victim of ritual murder.

Introduction under construction
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Woman with albin­ism recounts escape from ritual murder

Published: June 21, 2026
By: Musa Simelane – Sunday Observer, Eswatini

The life of Nel­isiwe Shiba, a woman born with albin­ism, was never the same after dodging the night she was meant to ‘dis­ap­pear’ for good, as per the age-old legend that people like her do not die — they simply van­ish.

They can even leave the house in the middle of the night without inform­ing any­one, as the legend goes, and take on a mys­ter­i­ous jour­ney to a forest or moun­tain – never to be traced again.

However, just hours before the even­ing when such was sched­uled to hap­pen to Shiba (35), she was given a timely tip-off by a com­munity res­id­ent sup­posedly sent by a mem­ber of the very group that had plot­ted to make her van­ish forever. The mem­ber seem­ingly had a change of heart.

This took place in one of the small rural com­munit­ies of North­ern Hho­hho, whose name she pre­ferred not to dis­close. She was 25 at the time and had a small child.

Since then, Shiba has been liv­ing with the kind of fear that grips people with albin­ism nowadays — that when the sun sets, they could fall vic­tim to ritual killing dis­guised as mys­ter­i­ous dis­ap­pear­ances. Albin­ism is a genetic con­di­tion in which a per­son is born with little or no melanin pig­ment, res­ult­ing in lighter skin, hair, and eyes and often caus­ing vis­ion prob­lems.

Harm­ful myths falsely claim that people with albin­ism pos­sess magical powers or bring wealth, a mis­con­cep­tion that has con­trib­uted to dis­crim­in­a­tion, attacks, and ritual killings.

Elab­or­at­ing on her account in the wake of Inter­na­tional Albin­ism Aware­ness Day, com­mem­or­ated on June 13 to pro­mote the rights, dig­nity and inclu­sion of per­sons with albin­ism world­wide, Shiba men­tioned that she had pre­vi­ously been obli­vi­ous to grave dangers faced by people like her.

“After I gradu­ated from Limkok­wing Uni­versity, I relo­cated to North­ern Hho­hho because I got a piece-job as a shop­keeper in a gro­cery shop owned by a rel­at­ive. The com­munity there was very wel­com­ing and I never felt unsafe, even at night,” she said.

The only chal­lenge she knew and had exper­i­enced as a per­son with albin­ism was dis­crim­in­a­tion. Being vul­ner­able to murder for ritual pur­poses was a myth to her until the day she got a grave warn­ing that saved her life.

Recount­ing the events of that day, she stated:

“The com­munity mem­ber came to the shop where I worked.

He said he wanted my father’s con­tact num­ber. I was scep­tical about giv­ing it to him, but he insisted with some urgency.”

She yiel­ded after the man bluntly told her that she was not safe and must ensure she did not close the shop late that day.

“He called my father and I over­heard the con­ver­sa­tion. He informed him about a plot to take my life and that it was a done deal. I had been sold, that night would be the one I dis­ap­peared,” she stated.

Shiba also over­heard that a cer­tain witch­doc­tor or sor­cerer was part of the group and had approved her as a suit­able tar­get. He would be there to over­see the ritual pro­cess of the killing. The fact that she had a small child, though without albin­ism, was viewed as a bonus. Shiba was going to ‘dis­ap­pear’ with her child.

“When he fin­ished the phone con­ver­sa­tion, before depart­ing, he gave me another stern warn­ing not to tell any­one what I had heard.

Shortly after­wards, I received a call from my father, who told me to pack up and find someone to carry on with the shop the fol­low­ing day because he would be fetch­ing me before even­ing,” she explained.

Shiba remem­bers being emo­tion­ally trau­mat­ised by the visit and feel­ing weak at the knees with fear due to sud­den real­isa­tion she was never com­pletely safe due to her albin­ism.

Early that even­ing, her par­ents arrived in a car and took her and her child away without giv­ing any hint that it was, in fact, a des­per­ate escape.

She recalled that the com­munity mem­ber who warned her father hin­ted dur­ing the phone call that the homestead involved in the deadly plot was nearby.

These were people she inter­ac­ted with almost daily and would never have sus­pec­ted to har­bour such inten­tions. Look­ing back, she says the incid­ent became a turn­ing point that fuelled her dis­trust of people — something that per­sists to this day. It takes time for her to let down her guard.

“I don’t hitch­hike or accept lifts unless it is from someone very close and trus­ted. I rely on pub­lic trans­port and would rather go back home than accept a lift from strangers,” she added.

Since that day, she has also become sens­it­ive to noises at night. The slight­est sound in or out­side the house wakes her up, and she listens care­fully to determ­ine its nature.

Over the years, Shiba chan­nelled that fear into advocacy by join­ing the Swazi­l­and Asso­ci­ation of Per­sons with Albin­ism (SAPA), where she has since risen to the pos­i­tion of pres­id­ent.

“I’ve also become a motiv­ator for per­sons with albin­ism and try to fight for our rights. Apart from threats to our lives, we suf­fer social dis­crim­in­a­tion a lot, as many people have wrong inform­a­tion about albin­ism,” she said.

“There’s still a long way to go in edu­cat­ing the nation and debunk­ing all the myths.”

Source: Woman with albin­ism recounts escape from ritual murder

SADC countries: Warn­ing over ‘under­cover gen­o­cide’ of per­sons with albin­ism

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Introduction under construction
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SADC countries: Warn­ing over ‘under­cover gen­o­cide’ of per­sons with albin­ism

Published: June 14, 2026
By: Musa Simelane – Sunday Observer, Eswatini

The Swazi­l­and Asso­ci­ation of Per­sons with Albin­ism (SAPA) has raised alarm over per­sist­ent dis­crim­in­a­tion, dan­ger­ous super­sti­tions and viol­ence against people with albin­ism.

The asso­ci­ation warned that the situ­ation amounts to an ‘under­cover gen­o­cide’, not just in the king­dom, but the wider South­ern African Devel­op­ment Com­munity (SADC) region. The con­cern was expressed by SAPA Exec­ut­ive Dir­ector Philemon Gama dur­ing the com­mem­or­a­tion of Inter­na­tional Albin­ism Aware­ness Day held at the Deputy prime min­is­ter’s office on Fri­day.

The event was atten­ded by Min­is­ter of Tour­ism and Envir­on­mental Affairs Jane Mkhonta-Simelane, who rep­res­en­ted Deputy Prime Min­is­ter Thulisile Dladla. Rep­res­ent­at­ives from dis­ab­il­ity organ­isa­tions and SAPA mem­bers were also in attend­ence.

Gama said mis­in­form­a­tion about albin­ism remains wide­spread, con­trib­ut­ing to stigma, exclu­sion and in some cases, viol­ent attacks. He noted that harm­ful beliefs—such as the idea that people with albin­ism do not die but dis­ap­pear, or that their body parts bring luck—con­tinue to place them at risk of ritual killings.

He cited recent incid­ents in the South­ern African Devel­op­ment Com­munity (SADC) region, includ­ing the killing of chil­dren with albin­ism in Mad­a­gas­car and another case in Malawi involving a rel­at­ive. He cited cases in the coun­try, recall­ing the 2010 murders of two chil­dren in the Shisel­weni region and a another in the Hho­hho region in 2016, which he said demon­strate that the threat is not the­or­et­ical but real.

“These are not was olated incid­ents. They reflect a deeper prob­lem driven by super­sti­tion and silence. In many cases, dis­ap­pear­ances are not prop­erly repor­ted due to cul­tural mis­con­cep­tions,” Gama said.

Bey­ond safety con­cerns, he high­lighted sys­temic dis­crim­in­a­tion affect­ing access to oppor­tun­it­ies, includ­ing fin­an­cial assist­ance. He said per­sons with albin­ism were often met with skep­ti­cism when seek­ing sup­port, lim­it­ing their abil­ity to improve their live­li­hoods.

Gama wel­comed gov­ern­ment efforts to improve liv­ing con­di­tions for per­sons with albin­ism, includ­ing a hous­ing ini­ti­at­ive announced by the deputy prime min­is­ter’s office. Under the pro­gramme, five houses were alloc­ated, with two already com­pleted and handed over at Mhlangatane and Mayi­wane, while three remain under con­struc­tion.

He fur­ther called for SPF 50+ sun­screen to be included on the national essen­tial medi­cines list, arguing that it should be provided free due to the health risks asso­ci­ated with pro­longed sun expos­ure.

SAPA also urged stronger regional and con­tin­ental legal pro­tec­tions, call­ing on gov­ern­ments and the African Union to intensify efforts to pre­vent ritual killings and dis­crim­in­a­tion. Gama appealed to com­munit­ies, tra­di­tional lead­ers and the media to act­ively chal­lenge harm­ful beliefs and ensure respons­ible report­ing.

He stressed that aware­ness must extend bey­ond annual com­mem­or­a­tions.

“This issue requires con­sist­ent atten­tion, edu­ca­tion and action throughout the year if we are to achieve mean­ing­ful change,” he said. Gama con­cluded by call­ing for sus­tained advocacy and stronger insti­tu­tional sup­port to ensure the safety, dig­nity and full inclu­sion of per­sons with albin­ism in soci­ety.

Source: Warn­ing over ‘under­cover gen­o­cide’ of per­sons with albin­ism

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Nigeria: Edo Government demolishes building linked to ritual activities including murder

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The article below with details of the Edo Government’s demolition of a building linked to criminal activities including ritual murder illustrates well how an age-old traditional ceremony – a human sacrifice for the well-being of a community, firmly rooted in the belief in supernatural powers – has turned into a criminal, money-making machine. This tendency in several Sub-Saharan African countries – unfortunately, not limited to Nigeria – became already apparent in the late 20th century and is becoming more and more a daily threat in the present 21st century.

While criminal ritualistic activities including murder occur all over Nigeria, Edo State is notoriously known for these repulsive and condemnable acts. See e.g. some of my previous posts.
Warning: the following posts contain graphic contents and may shock readers.

Ritual murder in Edo State – man caught with daughter’s head, her body found in shallow grave
Published: April 27, 2024

Edo Police Command uncover’s ritualist’s den, 20 corpses in Benin City, Edo State
Published: August 28, 2022

Angry mob sets four on fire over ritual killing in Edo State
Published: February 27, 2022

Ritualists behead lady, dump her corpse in bush in Benin City, Edo State
Published: October 29, 2018

Body of young woman found in Benin City (Edo State) with vital organs missing
Published: October 28, 2018

Some background information on Edo State, Nigeria

The Federal Republic of Nigeria is divided into six geopolitical zones commonly called zones. Edo State is located in the South-South geopolitical zone of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, bordering Koti State (north and east), Ondo State (in the west), Delta State (in the south), and Anambra State (the east).

Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones

Edo State is Nigeria’s 22nd (or 24th) most populous state with an estimated population of between 6 and 10 million. With a surface area of 17,802 km2 it also ranks number 22. The state’s capital and largest city, Benin City, is one of Nigeria’s largest (ranking 4 after Lagos, Kano and Ibadan) and one of the country’s most famous and historic cities.
(FVDK)

Edo Government demolishes building linked to cultism, ritual activities

Published: June 17, 2026
By: Matthew Atungwu – Daily Post, Nigeria

The Edo State Government has demolished a building allegedly linked to cultism and ritual activities in Uromi, Esan North-East Local Government Area of the state.

In a statement by Governor Monday Okpebholo’s media aide, Patrick Ebojele, on Tuesday,  another property was also sealed off in a renewed crackdown on crime and criminal networks.

Ebojele said the operation was carried out under “Operation Flush Out Kidnappers and Cultists”.

According to him, the operation involved the Edo State Security Corps, the Nigeria Police Force, and other security agencies under the supervision of senior security officials attached to the governor.

Secretary of the Edo State Security Squad, John Izegaegbe, said the intervention followed intelligence reports and field findings in the area.

Izegaegbe added that one of the sealed buildings in Ebhoijie-Uromi was linked to a disturbing discovery made in June.

“We are here on the order of Governor Monday Okpebholo, and, on getting here, we discovered that it is a ritual and murder case.

“It was further discovered, according to medical experts, that the body found in the building, which is the body of their gatekeeper, identified as Mildah Dalandi, had been decomposing for about one month in the apartment,” he said.

The state government reiterated that investigations were ongoing and assured residents that efforts to dismantle criminal networks across communities would continue.

Source: Edo Govt demolishes building linked to cultism, ritual activities

Related articles on the same subject:

Edo Government demolishes suspected criminal hideout, orders fugitives to surrender

Published: June 16, 2026
By: Felix Ifijeh – TheWill, NIgeria

June 16, (THEWILL) — The Edo State Government has intensified its crackdown on violent crime after demolishing a building allegedly linked to ritual killings and cult-related activities in Uromi, while sealing another property connected to the same suspects and ordering two fleeing individuals to surrender within 72 hours.

The demolition exercise formed part of the state’s ongoing security operation, Operation Flush Out Kidnappers and Cultists, involving operatives of the Edo State Security Corps (ESSC), the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies acting under directives from Governor Monday Okpebholo.

Speaking during the operation on Tuesday, Secretary of the Edo State Security Squad, Barrister John Izegaegbe, said the action followed intelligence reports and field investigations which uncovered disturbing evidence linking the affected properties to murder, ritual practices and cult activities.

According to Izegaegbe, operatives were acting on a direct order from Governor Okpebholo when investigators discovered what he described as evidence of a ritual killing case tied to one of the buildings in Ebhoijie area of Uromi.

“We are here on the marching order of Governor Monday Okpebholo and getting here we discovered that it’s a ritual and a murder case,” he said.

Izegaegbe disclosed that a decomposing body discovered in one of the sealed apartments was identified as Mildah Dalandi, a gateman employed at the property. 

According to preliminary findings, medical experts who examined the remains concluded that the victim had been dead for nearly one month before the body was discovered.

“It was further discovered according to medical experts that the body found in the building, which is the body of their gateman identified as Mildah Dalandi, has been decomposing for about one month in the apartment,” Izegaegbe stated.

Security officials said residents had alerted authorities after perceiving a foul odour around the building, prompting operatives to force entry into the premises on June 2, 2026, where the decomposed body was eventually found.

The Edo government identified two prime suspects in the case as Eweh Favour and Eweh Bright, both of whom are currently on the run.

Authorities have now issued a 72-hour ultimatum directing the suspects to report to security agencies for questioning.

“The suspects are on the run, but we are giving them 72 hours to report themselves at the Uromi Police Divisional Headquarters or Area Command to clear themselves and enable further investigation into the matter,” Izegaegbe said.

Following further investigation, security operatives traced another property belonging to the suspects on Dr. Ebason Street in Uromi, where authorities claimed additional incriminating evidence was uncovered, prompting immediate demolition of the building.

“This house will certainly be brought down as the government will not tolerate criminal elements in the state,” the security official declared.

Investigators alleged that the demolished property served as an initiation ground for cult activities.

According to Izegaegbe, several suspicious items recovered during the operation included laptops, machetes, battle axes, native pots, candles, identity documents, photographs, and a red-coloured liquid suspected to have been used for ritual practices.

One of the photographs recovered from the premises reportedly bore the inscription “Singapore ritualist,” further raising suspicion about the nature of activities allegedly conducted there.

“Information brought us here as the property belongs to the same suspects and evidence has shown that this building is used as an initiation ground for new members into the cult confraternity,” he added.

He said the demolition was meant to serve as a warning to criminal elements operating anywhere within the state.

“This building is going down to serve as a deterrent to other criminal elements who are engaged in criminal activities in Edo State. We are warning them to leave the state or have themselves to be blamed as the Governor Monday Okpebholo-led administration will not tolerate them causing havoc in the state,” he said.

The State Government reiterated that investigations remain ongoing and vowed to sustain aggressive operations aimed at dismantling criminal networks linked to kidnapping, cult violence, ritual killings and other forms of insecurity across communities.

Source: Edo Demolishes Suspected Criminal Hideout, Orders Fugitives to Surrender

See also:

Oyo, Edo govts demolish building linked to arms storage, ritual killing
Published: June 17, 2026
By: The Nation, Nigeria

And:

The Stench That Exposed a Suspected Ritualists’ Den in Edo

Published: June 17, 2026
By: Mike Osarogiagbon – The Nigerian Observer

In an intensified crackdown on cultism and ritual-related crimes in Edo State, the state government on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, reportedly demolished a building and sealed another suspected to be havens for cultists and ritualists in Uromi, the administrative headquarters of Esan North-East Local Government Area.

The operation, carried out under the state’s “Operation Flush Out Kidnappers and Cultists,” took a horrifying turn when security operatives discovered the decomposing body of a gateman inside one of the properties, triggering a murder and suspected ritual-related investigation that has sent shockwaves through Uromi and beyond.

According to a statement by Dr. Patrick Akhere Ebojele, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo, the operation was witnessed by senior personnel of the Edo State Security Corps (ESSC), the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies under the supervision of top security officials attached to the governor.

But beyond the bulldozers, shattered walls and recovery of suspected ritual items lies a disturbing reality, for about a month, the gateman, identified as Mildah Dalandi, lay dead inside an apartment while neighbours went about their daily activities. Vehicles moved in and out of the area, and the bustling community carried on with its routines. Yet, behind closed doors, his decomposing body remained undiscovered until a foul stench forced residents to raise the alarm.

Speaking during the exercise, the Secretary of the Edo State Security Squad, Barr. John Izegaegbe, said the intervention followed intelligence reports and field findings in the area.

“We are here on the marching orders of Governor Monday Okpebholo, and upon arriving here, we discovered that this is a murder and suspected ritual case,” he said.

The statement disclosed that security operatives gained access to the property on June 2, 2026, where they discovered the decomposing body.

The investigation subsequently led security agencies to another property allegedly linked to two brothers, Eweh Favour and Eweh Bright, who have since been declared wanted and are currently on the run along with other persons yet to be identified.

The governor’s spokesman further quoted Barr. Izegaegbe as saying, “Medical experts confirmed that the body found in the building, identified as that of the gateman, Mildah Dalandi, had been decomposing in the apartment for about one month.”

The state government alleged that evidence recovered from the premises indicated that the building was being used for cult-related activities, including the initiation of new members.

Among the items reportedly recovered were laptops, machetes, battle axes, native pots, candles, a red-coloured liquid suspected to have been used for rituals, identity documents and photographs, including one bearing the inscription, “Singapore Ritualist.”

For many residents, however, the most disturbing aspect of the case remains the fate of the gateman whose body lay undiscovered for weeks.

Questions continue to linger. How did the gateman die? Why was his body abandoned? What transpired inside the apartment where he spent his final days? And what secrets died with him? Was he the only victim, why was he not declared missing or could more persons be linked to the ongoing investigation?

While the demolished structures now lie in ruins, the tragedy of the gateman and the unanswered questions surrounding his final days continue to cast a dark shadow over the Ebhoijie-Uromi community and beyond.

As the Governor Monday Okpebholo-led administration and security agencies intensify efforts to track down the fleeing suspects, residents hope the ongoing investigation will provide answers and justice for a man whose death was only discovered after a stench exposed what the government has described as a house of horror.

Source: The Stench That Exposed a Suspected Ritualists’ Den in Edo

Mob lynches traditional healer after client dies during ritual in Kole District, Uganda

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The main reason for presenting the case below is to draw attention to the belief in superstition, which is widespread in Uganda. Superstition is one of the main factors in the occurrence of ritualistic murders.

Introduction under construction (FVDK)

Mob Lynches Traditional Healer After Client Dies During Ritual in Kole

Published: June 15, 2026
By: F. Otucu, ChimpReports

Police in Kole District are investigating a case of double murder after a traditional healer was lynched by a mob following the death of his client during a ritual. The incident occurred on 13 June 2026 in Otwonoipingi Cell, Akalo Town Council, and left two people dead: 22-year-old Ecom Ivan and 50-year-old Mary Oming, a traditional healer.

According to preliminary police findings, the healer had been invited to conduct rituals related to a recent cattle theft when Ivan allegedly collapsed and died at the shrine, triggering a violent reaction from community members who descended on the healer, killing her, and setting ablaze two grass-thatched houses and a motorcycle.

Police say they responded to the scene, documented the incident, recovered exhibits and transported the bodies to Lira Regional Referral Hospital Mortuary for postmortem examinations. Security agencies have launched a manhunt for all suspects involved and have strongly condemned the mob action, warning that such attacks not only result in further loss of life but also destroy evidence and undermine the rule of law.

Police spokesman Rusoke Kituuma has been urged to promptly report suspected crimes to the authorities, avoid harmful or misleading practices, and refrain from taking the law into their own hands.

Source: Mob Lynches Traditional Healer After Client Dies During Ritual in Kole

Read also:

Witch doctor lynched after youth dies during ritual over stolen cows

Police recovered exhibits from the scene and recorded statements from witnesses as investigations continue. No arrests had been made by press time.

Published: June 15, 2026
By: Simon Masaba, New Vision – Uganda
Source: Witch doctor lynched after youth dies during ritual over stolen cows

Kole District, Uganda

Nigeria: The scourge of ritual killings  

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The following article, below, resonates deeply with me. In recent years, I have written so often about ritual murders in Nigeria (‘money business’) that it will surprise no one what moved the writer of this article. In Africa’s most populous country, ritual murders are committed perhaps daily: murders with ritual motives, superstition, belief in the power of ‘juju’, with the aim of enriching oneself, acquiring a better political or social position, or other selfish purposes.

Why is it so difficult to put an end to these vile, outdated and criminal acts?
(FVDK)

The scourge of ritual killings  

Published: June 3, 2026
By: This Day, Editorial, Nigeria

The criminals should be served full weight of the law

Increasingly, many Nigerians are now living in fear over growing cases of ritual killings. Last week, security operatives arrested a suspected serial killer who reportedly confessed to murdering dozens of people in the Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State. The suspect claimed he was assisted by a woman who usually lured unsuspecting victims to isolated locations where they were murdered, obviously for ritual purposes. But the Odukpani killings are not isolated incidents. While there may be no reliable statistics, the menace of missing persons and ritual killings across the country has become pronounced. Indeed, it has become so obvious that a civil society organisation, ‘Enough is Enough’, has since opened a website to document the trend.

From Lagos to Port Harcourt, Enugu and other cities across the country, hardly a week passes without tales of some people killed for what are attributed to ritual purposes. Last November, a Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) officer and her 12-year-old daughter, were gruesomely murdered in Osun State by a family friend who lured them to the shrine of a herbalist where they were slaughtered and dismembered, with their vital organs removed. And in April this year, the Kwara State Police Command apprehended a man with the skull of a deceased family member whose remains he had exhumed.

 Ritual killing is not a new criminal challenge. In March 2014, the nation was thrown into confusion when a kidnappers’ den was discovered in Soka community, Ibadan, Oyo State. After the den was raided by some commercial motorcyclists who were searching for two of their missing colleagues, human skulls, dried human parts alongside malnourished victims reportedly reserved for ritual purposes, were discovered. In August 2018, the Lagos police arrested one Taiwo Akinola, a suspected cult member, for allegedly attempting to kill his mother for money rituals.  

But perhaps one of the most celebrated cases was that of the Port Harcourt serial killer, Gracious David-West who reportedly lured seven young ladies with high-risk lifestyle across Lagos, Imo and Rivers State to hotels and murdered them for rituals. Similarly, a young graduate who was raped and murdered while searching for a job in Uyo environs, Akwa Ibom State, few years ago, was reportedly used for ritual purposes. There was also the horrifying murder of a 300-Level undergraduate of Delta State University, Abraka, by a gang of four yahoo boys. One of the criminals told the police that they took the young lady to a bush where they plucked out her eyes, removed her breast and heart.  

But the questions inevitably arise: What are the motives? What could be the cause of these grim acts of violence against fellow human beings, and indeed, the society? What could account for these barbaric acts of violence even among the supposedly educated citizens? Many attribute the menace to the growing sense of desperation to acquire wealth, without work. Amid the prevailing poverty and joblessness in the land, many have resorted to doing anything, no matter how weird, for wealth. Yet, there is no proven link between the costly rituals and the instant wealth promised through magical potions by herbalists and voodoo practitioners even when our society is now ravaged by it.

Today, many of our university campuses have become breeding grounds for Yahoo boys and girls who are looking for instant wealth. Sadly, the education they received does not rid them of the superstition that wealth comes from productive enterprises and not from human body. And with that, many innocent citizens are becoming victims to barbaric killings.

Source: The scourge of ritual killings

Uganda Crime Report reveals: In 2025, on average, a ritual murder victim was discovered every week, often a child

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The Ugandan press and the national as well as regional and local authorities are pretty open in publishing confirmed and suspected cases of murders for ritualistic purposes. First of all, I would like to compliment these institutions on this.

This openness may suggest that ritual murders occur more frequently in this East African country than in other African countries. However, this conclusion is premature unless it is based on comparative research and takes certain caveats into account. However, notwithstanding the foregoing, we can say that Uganda is a country where ritual murders occur frequently. Human sacrifice for ritualistic motives and notably child sacrifice is a plague in this country. The Prevention and Prohibition of Human Sacrifice Act (adopted in 2021), which explicitly permits the death penalty for perpetrators of ritual murders (human sacrifices) and the financing thereof, haven’t had the envisaged deterrent effect. Last year, on Christmas Eve, in his annual Christmas message, the Kabaka of Buganda 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.

In an earlier post in 2024, I reported that the number of reported murders for ritualistic purposes in the 2021 – 2023 period were 46 (2021), 72 (2022) and 84 (in 2023). In other words, the frequency of reported ritual murders nearly doubled between 2021 and 2023.  Moreover, only 11 cases out of the 84 reported ritual murders in 2023 resulted in the prosecution of the suspected perpetrators.

In March this year, Uganda’s Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) published its 2025 Annual Crime Report covering a broad array of crimes. We’ll focus here on the present website’s topic, ritualistic murders.

Compared to 2023 there was a decrease in the number of reported ritual murders cases in 2025 (unfortunately, data for 2024 are lacking). In 2025 there were 61 reported cases – hence an average of 5 murders each month, or one ritual murder discovered each week – every week, throughout the year… A harrowing thought.

Generally speaking, the highest incidence of murders (all categories combined) was reported in Kyegegwa District (67 cases), followed by Mubende and Kyenjojo with 58 cases each, Rukungiri with 54, and Oyam with 53. It would be interesting to analyze the CDI report to determine whether there is a correlation between regionally reported murder cases and the frequency of ritual-related crimes.
(webmaster FVDK)

2025 CDI Crime report: 25 Ugandans die daily in murders

Published: March 31, 2026
By: URN, Uganda

At least 25 Ugandans died daily from murders and road crashes in 2025, according to the annual crime report compiled by the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID).

The report shows that 4,328 people were deliberately killed, translating into an average of 11 murders per day. Assault was the leading cause of killings, accounting for 1,326 deaths, followed by mob action with 950 cases.

Other causes of murder included strangulation (415 cases), hacking (338), stabbing (292), assault using blunt objects (289), domestic violence (208), shooting (190), poisoning (111), ritual sacrifice (61), and arson (58).

Regionally, Kyegegwa District recorded the highest number of murders at 67 cases, followed by Mubende and Kyenjojo with 58 cases each, Rukungiri with 54, and Oyam with 53.

Infographic showing murders by cause and districts 

CID director Maj Tom Magambo said overall crime registered a 10.2 per cent drop between 2022 and 2025, indicating a consistent downward trend.

Meanwhile, traffic police reported 4,602 fatal crashes in 2025, resulting in 5,383 deaths — an average of 14 fatalities per day. The figure represents a 4.7 per cent increase from the 5,144 deaths recorded in 2024.

Serious injuries rose by 8.4 per cent from 17,013 in 2024 to 18,444 in 2025, while minor injuries increased slightly from 3,651 to 3,668. However, total crashes dropped to 322,441 in 2025 from 426,632 in 2024.

December recorded the highest number of crashes at 2,443, while June registered the lowest at 1,978. Fatalities peaked in October with 523 deaths and were lowest in June at 390.

Director of Traffic and Road Safety AIGP Lawrence Nuwabine attributed the rise in fatalities to increased travel demand, particularly during festive periods.

Inspector General of Police Abas Byakagaba said police will fully implement the sub-county policing model to further reduce crime, which currently stands at 56 per cent nationwide.

“Other initiatives like CCTV cameras, enhanced K9 and forensic services, and targeted operations have contributed to a 10.2 per cent crime reduction in 2025, compared to 4.1 per cent in 2024,” Byakagaba said.

Overall, police-recorded cases dropped from 218,715 in 2024 to 196,405 in 2025. Of these, 79,291 cases were taken to court involving 99,004 accused persons, while 31,732 suspects were convicted.

Source: Crime report: 25 Ugandans die daily in murders, road crashes

Botswana: Blood, betrayal and the sangoma’s secret

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My most recent post on Botswana on this site, last month – March 25 – had the reassuring title ‘There is no such thing as ritual killings in our laws’, says Botswana Minister for State President, Defence, and Security Moeti Mohwasa.

However, I myself could hardly believe that His Excellency the Minister was telling the truth here. I therefore concluded this post with the remark that “(…) Minister Mohwasa’s statement may be theoretically true, in the strict sense of the law, but that says nothing about the fact that ritual murder does indeed occur in Botswana.”

The murder case described below is not a clear-cut case of ritualistic murder, as the author also concludes in the last paragraph. But when a body is found ‘with parts missing’ (as the saying goes), in particular the victim’s private parts or a body part which is considered essential, rumors emerge that the cause of death is related to ‘muti’, a killing for ritualistic proposes or motives, especially given the fact that a songoma is involved.

Read the full story below.
(FVDK)

Botswana: Blood, betrayal and the sangoma’s secret

Published: March 29, 2026
By: Bruce Ndlovu, Sunday News, Herald Online, Botswana

In the quiet, dust-swept lands of Gakuto, a tiny village north of Gaborone, a passer-by made a discovery that shattered Botswana’s perception of love and safety in matrimony.

In a place where cattle paths snake through scrub and silence often carries more weight than words, the unnamed passer-by stumbled upon the mutilated remains of a man whose body bore the hallmarks of a violent and deeply unsettling end.

Unknown at the time was that the dead man was a husband and father.

Whispers in Gakuto suggested that parts of the man’s body were missing. Reports later confirmed that the deceased had been buried without his tongue and private parts.

The victim was Timothy Segola, a recently retired lecturer from the University of Botswana, who had left his career with a handsome package said to be worth millions of pula.

His death unravelled into a chilling tale of love, greed, ritual and betrayal — one that drew in Zimbabwean traditional healer Stella Sibanda and gripped both Botswana and Zimbabwe.

A friend turned suspect

For years, Stella Sibanda had been a familiar figure to the Segola family — a trusted traditional doctor whose presence was woven into the rhythms of their lives. That made the allegations that followed all the more shocking.

Investigators alleged that Timothy’s wife, Malebogo Segola, conspired with Sibanda and her son, Maxwell, to spiritually subdue her husband and eventually murder him.

Sibanda was allegedly enlisted to “bewitch” Timothy, turning him into a compliant partner through a process known in Setswana as go mo hemisa.

The plan was to transform the retired academic into a “yes ma’am” husband. But somewhere between whispered incantations and shadowy intentions, the scheme spiralled into something far darker.

Timothy Segola ended up dead.

Stella Sibanda (right)

Love, money, betrayal

As investigators peeled back the layers of the case, a complex web of motives emerged.

There were claims of a clandestine affair between Malebogo and co-accused Alfred Gaseitsiwe. There were whispers of fortune, suggesting the widow stood to gain millions if Timothy died.

Sibanda herself made startling claims in court, alleging that Malebogo had long harboured intentions to kill her husband for P4,5 million.

What began as suspected ritual manipulation now appeared to be a murder conspiracy rooted in passion and profit.
Timothy’s body, discovered in the open lands, bore signs of extreme violence.

Community accounts spoke of missing body parts, fuelling speculation of ritual elements. Reports from the popular Botswana podcast “Case by Case” claimed Sibanda performed a cleansing ritual on her co-accused after the murder, attempting to spiritually wash away blood that could not be unseen.

The fall and the flight

Arrested alongside her co-accused in July 2025, Sibanda’s troubles mounted quickly.

In court, she cut a subdued figure, speaking of children left behind. But the courts showed little sympathy. Her bids for freedom were rejected at every level — from the Magistrate’s Court to the High Court and even Botswana’s Court of Appeal.

State prosecutor Ms Seeletso Ookeditse remarked.

“One can imagine the amount of time the accused persons had to cover their tracks. We therefore need time to investigate, as there is likelihood of evidence being tampered with. It would not be in the best interest of justice for the accused persons to be released on bail.”

After repeated rejections, Sibanda took matters into her own hands.
On 4 February she became the first woman in recent memory to escape from Gaborone Women’s Prison, a facility long considered secure.

The escape sent shockwaves through Botswana’s security establishment and triggered a nationwide manhunt. The last woman to escape prison had been another Zimbabwean back in 2004.

Her freedom was fleeting

In the early hours of a Thursday morning, in Gaborone’s Block 3, Sibanda was recaptured. Authorities praised citizen cooperation and promised tighter security measures.

The Botswana Prison Service said: “Prisoner Stella Sibanda, aged 50, who escaped from Gaborone Women’s Prison on February 4, has been recaptured at Gaborone Block 3. We extend our appreciation to members of the public and law enforcement agencies who worked tirelessly to ensure her recapture. Measures are being strengthened to prevent similar incidents in the future and the safety and security of the public remain our top priority.”

Now, Sibanda faces not only charges of murder — a capital offence under Section 203 of Botswana’s Penal Code, punishable by death by hanging — but also additional charges for her escape.

A story that refuses to rest

Before the saga, Sibanda had embraced modern platforms, advertising her services on social media.

With a cow’s tail (itshoba) and clay pots before her, she presented herself as the epitome of the modern traditional healer on TikTok. Among her followers were the Segola family, for whom the betrayal cuts deepest.

For Sibanda, the journey from healer to accused fugitive reads like a cautionary tale of how quickly the line between the spiritual and the sinister can blur.

For those watching, the case lingers — unresolved, unsettling and steeped in questions that refuse to rest. Was this a crime of passion? A plot driven by greed? Or something darker, rooted in beliefs that thrive in the shadows?
Sibanda and her co-accused are set to return to court soon, as Botswana’s justice system prepares to untangle truth from rumour.

Source: Blood, betrayal and the sangoma’s secret

Money rituals in Sierra Leone – revisited 

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Warning: This post contains graphic views and contents which may upset readers and viewers. 

By chance, I recently stumbled upon the impressive BBC film about money rituals in Africa, which was published late last year. The film is bewildering, terrifying and at the same time admirable. Based on an undercover operation in Sierra Leone, investigative journalist Tyson Conteh explains in the 50-minute film how a ‘money ritual’ works.

The film addresses all facets of murder for ritual purposes: naturally, first and foremost, the superstition regarding the supernatural powers derived from ‘juju’ obtained from human organs, body parts, or whatever else. Furthermore, the unscrupulous, criminal nature of the mastermind, the intermediary, the actual murderer, and the role of the witch doctor or traditional healer is clearly revealed. They are willing to sacrifice the life of an innocent victim for their own ambition or greed. 

Tyson Conteh also addresses the impunity with which those responsible for these crimes unfortunately often get away, partly explained by the active involvement in some cases of politicians, traditional authorities, and/or other public figures. A complicating factor is that some well-intentioned African law enforcement officers—policemen—also believe in the power of the ‘juju’ that surrounds these crimes and are cautious or even reluctant in investigating and combating these gruesome acts. The practice of ritual killings hits very close to home for Tyson Conteh, who, along with his team, deserves nothing but praise for this insightful film, when he learns that a close family member has fallen victim to ritual killing. The pain and grief of the victim’s parents and other relatives are deeply relatable and moving.

Finally, it is important to mention that the intermediaries and witch doctors filmed by the investigation team were possibly fraudsters who verbally declared themselves willing to carry out a ritual murder on demand for a substantial sum, with the aim of swindling the client out of their money. Needless to say, the undercover journalist did not let it get that far. 

I highly recommend viewing this film.
To access the film, please click here
(webmaster FVDK)

NB: I also paid attention to this film in a previous post dated November 29, 2025, entitled: Ritual murder in Sierra Leone: ‘Murder for black magic’,

After the discovery of mutilated bodies – ‘There is no such thing as ritual killings in our laws’, says Minister for State President, Defence, and Security Moeti Mohwasa (Botswana)

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Despite six gruesome murders involving mutilated bodies over the past decade, the government of Botswana insist none can be classified as ritual killings. The reason? Minister for State President, Defence, and Security, Moeti Mohwasa, responding to a parliamentary question from Member of Parliament for Serowe South, Leepetswe Lesedi, explained that ‘In our statuses in general and the penal code in particular , we don’t have an offence called ritual killing.’ However, he admitted that Botswana is currently faced with a high number of reported missing persons – see the article below for the exact number of missing persons who were never recovered.

This is not to say that all missing persons have been murdered, let alone murdered for ritualistic reasons. But the harsh reality is that ritual murders – known in Southern Africa as ‘muti murders’ – do indeed occur in Botswana. See my posts of 2018 (referring to a suspected ritual murder case in 2017), 2019 (referring to a 2006 case), 2020 (including a 2011 article), 2021, 2022 (detailing a devastating 2019 report) and 2023. Some of these posts concern albino victims, see the 2022 post mentioned. In 2023 then Botswana president Mokgweetsi Masisi (2018-2024) condemned ritual murder practices.

Hence, Minister Mohwasa’s statement may be theoretically true, in the strict sense of the law, but that says nothing about the fact that ritual murder does indeed occur in Botswana.
(webmaster FVDK).

‘There is no such thing as ritual killings in our laws’ – Minister for State President, Defence, and Security Moeti Mohwasa

Source: Botswana Government – leadership

Published: March 24, 2026
By: Mmegionline – Botwana

This was revealed by the Minister for State President, Defence, and Security Moeti Mohwasa. Mohwasa was responding to a parliamentary question from Member of Parliament (MP) for Serowe South, Leepetswe Lesedi.

Lesedi had sought to find out from government a comprehensive report on the number of persons who have gone missing and those who have been reported missing in Botswana in the last 10 years.

The MP also sought to find out how many cases were due to kidnapping and ritual killings and what is being done to sensitize the public about such incidents.

To which the minister explained, “ In our statuses in general and the penal code in particular , we don’t have an offence called ritual killing. We are therefore constrained to speak to a crime that is not in our statutes. The taking of human life is criminalised as murder’. 

Mohwasa however admitted that the country is currently grappling with high number of reported missing persons.

“Most of them are the youth who go away without informing their relatives and guardians about their whereabouts. 6677 reports of missing persons which involved 6765 from 2016 to 2025 of the total, 3,412 were male , whilst 3,353 were female,” the Minister shared.

The Minister further stated that through search efforts by the police, the communities and publication on BPS Facebook page a total of 6,3330 missing persons were recovered while 426 were never recovered.

According to statistics in 2023 Botswana recorded 728 missing persons with 686 found, and 42 still missing, in 2024 709 were reported, with 647 found whilst 62 are still missing , in 2025 a total of 618 missing persons report was filed whilst 586 were recovered 32 are still missing.

Source: There is no such thing as ritual killings in our laws – Mohwasa