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?
Faced with alarm over ritual murders, Gabon’s President Brice Oligui Nguemaasks 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)
The current site presents little news about ritual practices, including ritual murders (“muti murders”) in Mozambique, mainly due to a bias in my research, which focuses primarily on Anglophone countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
Warning: I have included the last news article below (implicating Peter “Cool Dud” Muparutsa (66) of the RUNN Family fame, who has found himself at the centre of a storm after being accused by some relatives of the ritual murder of a Mozambican woman for fame during his hey days in music – for illustrative purposes: to indicate that ritualistic practices are not an unknown phenomenon in Mozambique – and would like to emphasize that inclusion in no way implies that I endorse the accusation. (webmaster FVDK)
‘Undocumented’ Mozambican sangoma in court over possession of human tissue
A Mozambican traditional healer, 26, Aizeque Zacaria Cumbuia, appeared in the Ga-Rankuwa Magistrates’ Court on Friday, for possession of human body parts.
Published: August 22, 2025 By: Mbalenhle Zuma – Sunday World (South Africa)
A 26-year-old Mozambican traditional healer, Aizeque Zacaria Cumbuia, appeared in the Ga-Rankuwa Magistrate’s Court on Friday, charged with possession of human tissue.
The discovery was made on August 7 during a police investigation into a gruesome murder in Brits. A female victim was killed, her body parts removed, and her remains burned.
“We were horrified to find human tissue in the suspect’s possession,” said a police spokesperson, underscoring the gravity of the case.
Found with murder victim’s body parts
Cumbuia was allegedly found with human tissue in a room where he practised as a sangoma (traditional healer).
“The evidence was uncovered during a thorough search linked to the Brits murder investigation,” the spokesperson added.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Cumbuia may also face charges of kidnapping, murder, defiling a corpse, and violating South Africa’s Immigration Act, as he is suspected of being in the country illegally.
The murder is linked to the 2023 killing of 20-year-old Gontse Makhubela. Her organs were allegedly found in Cumbuia’s possession.
During his arrest he was found in possession of human remains believed to be that of Makhubela, 20.
The young woman was allegedly lured by another man, Serame Moroke. The instruction allegedly came from Cumbuia, for Makhubela to be killed for ritual purposes.
Victim lured from shop by ‘client’
Makhubela was establishing her post-matric life when she was brutally murdered.
She was working as an intern at a furniture shop. Her assailants, posing as potential clients at the shop, lured her to her death.
Two other suspects, including another Mozambican traditional healer, have been arrested.
In court, the case was postponed to August 28, 2025, for a formal bail application. The state has, however, voiced out that they plan to oppose Cumbuia’s bail.
A prosecutor stated: “The severity of these crimes and the ongoing investigation demand that the accused remain in custody.”
Traditional healer in court for possession of human tissue linked to murder investigation
Aizeque Zacaria Cumbuia (26) a traditional healer from Mozambique appeared at the Ga-Rankuwa Magistrates’ Court. He is facing a charge of possession of human tissue
Published: August 22, 2025 By: IOL (South Africa)
Aizeque Zacaria Cumbuia, a 26-year-old traditional healer from Mozambique, made a brief appearance at the Ga-Rankuwa Magistrates’ Court, facing a serious charge of possession of human tissue.
The allegations against Cumbuia emerged from police operations that were initially focused on a separate murder case, according to National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson, Lumka Mahanjana.
She explained that police discovered evidence on August 7, when they found human tissue within the premises where Cumbuia practiced his traditional healing.
“This was discovered by police officers when they were conducting investigations in relation to a Brits murder case, where a deceased female was killed, body parts removed, and her body burned,” Mahanjana said.
Police have stepped up their efforts to trace the circumstances surrounding the crime, and Cumbuia’s alleged involvement has only intensified their inquiries.
During the court proceedings, the magistrate heard that the state intends to oppose any application for bail, arguing that Cumbuia’s release could pose significant risks to the ongoing investigation and the safety of the community.
The matter has been postponed until August 28 August when Cumbuia is expected to make a formal bail application.
Case of a Mozambican traditional healer accused of ritual murder postponed (YouTube)
Screenshot – to listen to the report, please click here
Published: August 22, 2025 By: SABC News – South Africa
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) is confident of a successful prosecution in the trial of a Mozambican national found in possession of human remains believed to be that of a murdered 20-year-old woman. 26-year-old Isaac Shikomboya’s arrest follows that of two other people who were apprehended after being found in possession of the slain victim’s cellphone. The two men led the police to Shikomboya. The case has been postponed to Thursday next week for a bail application.
Warning: I have included the news article below for illustrative purposes – to indicate that ritualistic practices are not an unknown phenomenon in Mozambique – and would like to emphasize that inclusion in no way implies that I endorse the accusation. (webmaster FVDK)
Weekender Reporter VETERAN producer and musician, Peter “Cool Dud” Muparutsa (66) of the RUNN Family fame, has found himself at the centre of a storm after being accused by some relatives of the ritual murder of a Mozambican woman for fame during his hey days in music.
The explosive allegations were thrown at the ageing producer by his grandnephew — Macdonald Nyamajiya — who claimed that Muparutsa later married him and his two brothers off to the slain woman’s blood-thirsty avenging spirit.
He alleged that the woman’s restless ghost has been haunting their family.
The matter was heard before Chief Mutasa’s community court recently after Muparutsa had reported Nyamajiya, accusing him of tormenting him through the “frivolous” allegations.
Muparutsa produced before the court a tirade of text messages, in which Nyamajiya accused him of being a heartless murderer and ritualist, who had destroyed his family.
“If you are free, come to Dangamvura today so that we see each other face-to-face. You know your stories or give me an address of where you stay so that I come there myself.
“Let us not meet in the spirit, but let us meet during daylight, enough is enough,” reads one of his text messages.
Another message, dripping with rage, reads: “I am not afraid of you, you are not God. Personally, it is now boring me because you are responsible for our suffering, so we have to meet. There shall come a time where we will be assaulting each other and striking each other with axes.
“I do not want a grandfather who makes me his scapegoat. What you have done is enough. If you do anything to me, know that you and your family will perish. Play your guitar at church later after you have finished appeasing this spirit,” he charged.
Startled by the venom, Muparutsa confirmed the accusations.
“I am being accused by my older brother’s daughter’s son of wizardry, possessing goblins, and causing all the mishaps in their family. I was shocked when I went through his text messages,” he said.
In response, Nyamajiya told the court that he had written the offensive messages out of deep pain.
“My late mother was a Muparutsa and my father hails from Bocha. However, I grew up within the Muparutsa family and use their surname.
Growing up, we were told that he (Peter) has goblins, and that he was being haunted by an avenging spirit because he killed someone in Mozambique.
“In April, the spirit started manifesting on my younger brother and we consulted healers, who told us that our grandfather, Peter, was responsible for it.
“My brother acted as if he was paralysed and would shout Peter’s name. It is still happening up to now,” he alleged. He further claimed that the spirit insisted that he and his two brothers were spiritually ‘wedded’ to a female goblin by the musician.
“It is said that he killed a woman of the Tembo Clan, and is the one whose spirit we were married to. She was from Mozambique.
“The woman claims she was killed for rituals to enhance his musical fame. Every healer we consulted pointed an accusing finger at him,” said Nyamajiya.
Another family member, Bridget Muparutsa, weighed in, saying the allegations have haunted them for generations.
“We heard about it as we grew up. We would get married and come back home widowed because our husbands would have died. We wanted to be here with the rest of the family, but in the process of taking the matter to Headman Muparutsa, Peter brought the case before this court,” she said.
The matter took an unexpected turn after Chief Mutasa ruled that Nyamajiya had no right to sue Peter.
“Macdonald, you are not a Muparutsa, it is your mother, who was a Muparutsa. If a Muparutsa killed someone, it is not possible for the avenging spirit to torment you because you are not a member of the Muparutsa family by blood.
You cannot come here accusing your uncle because you are not a Muparutsa. His family should report him, and not you,” warned Chief Mutasa.
He further warned Nyamajiya against being dragged in his uncles’ family feuds.
“Do not be too convinced of what you are hearing — what if it is someone else that is using his face? Do not be used to fight battles that are not yours. Let the Muparutsa family approach my court to sue him, not you. I am not favouring anyone in this matter, but we need to help you guys,” said Chief Mutasa.
Nyamajiya was fined a beast for disrespecting his uncle.
“You were disrespectful. For that, you must pay him a beast. You cannot challenge an elder in this manner,” he ruled.
Chief Mutasa also ordered the Muparutsa family to unite and consult traditional healers together to settle the matter.
Warning: the following post and related articles contain graphic details which may upset readers.
On previous occasions I have stated here that the numbers of abductions and murders for ritual motives are running sky-high in Nigeria, not to speak of missing persons leaving no trace. Having a brief look at the contents of this site since I started it in 2018, one is tempted to say that this West African country is well covered but by far I do not report all recorded cases of ritualistic murders in Africa’s most populated country (over 225 million inhabitants in 2024).
The list is too long to continue. Each day new ritual killing cases are unearthed, sometimes literally.
Given this background, the article below is not surprising and the reader will not be surprised that I fully support the author’s view: that greed is a basic ingredient and motive for ritualistic violence.
However, after having read the article I remain with two – related – unanswered questions.
Why is it that superstition is so widespread in Nigeria? Ritual murders and the harvesting of organs, other body parts, in short, ‘money rituals’, are carried out – by ‘ordinary criminals’ as well as by ‘ordinary citizens’ – because it is believed that ritual murders can make people rich or famous. Why is it that the belief in ‘juju’, the power of the supernatural, is so persistent? (webmaster FVDK)
it is believed that ritual killings can make people rich
When wealth demands blood: The horror of ritual killings in Nigeria
Published: March 13, 2025 By: Kelly Odaro – The Nigerian Observer
Amidst Nigeria’s economic quagmire, a more sinister affliction festers — ritual killings. This grotesque practice, once whispered in hushed tones and relegated to the annals of folklore, has metamorphosed into an alarming commonplace reality.
The nation wakes up to a grim litany of media headlines detailing the heinous acts of individuals who, in their insatiable pursuit of material prosperity, desecrate human life with blood ritual. The moral fabric of our society is unravelling at an alarming pace, frayed by an unsettling obsession with overnight wealth.
The recent gruesome murder in the Evbuotubu community of Benin City, where a young man’s head was severed, has once again spotlighted the disturbing prevalence of ritual killings in the region. This heinous act is not an isolated incident but part of a growing pattern of bloodshed fuelled by a dangerous obsession with instant wealth and power.
Ritual killings, often driven by superstitious beliefs and occult practices, have persisted in many parts of Nigeria despite modernisation and law enforcement efforts. In Benin City, several cases have been reported over the years, each more chilling than the last. Many of the unsuspecting victims are young men and women, often lured, kidnapped, and gruesomely murdered in rituals meant to bring fortune to perpetrators.
In past years, there have been numerous reports of mutilated bodies discovered in forests, abandoned buildings, or shallow graves, their organs harvested for money-making rituals. In
2020, a similar case rocked the Otuo community in Owan East Local Government Area of Edo State where three young men and a woman were set ablaze by a mob for allegedly beheading a secondary school student in a suspected ritual killing (Punch, 25 February, 2020). In 2018, four brothers allegedly unalived their grandmother for money rituals in Ohovbe quarters, Ikpoba Hill in Benin City, according to Vanguard News (January 9, 2018).
Likewise, in 2019, police uncovered a shrine where human skulls and body parts were found, indicating that ritual killings were being carried out on a large scale. More so, over twenty mummified bodies were discovered in a building in Benin City (The Guardian, August 8, 2022), and a myriad of similar incidents occurred across Nigeria.
Despite widespread condemnation, these horrific acts continue, largely because of deep-rooted societal attitudes that glorify sudden wealth without questioning its source. Many individuals with dubious riches are still celebrated, given chieftaincy titles, and honoured in religious circles simply because of their financial influence. This cultural acceptance creates an environment where desperate individuals, especially young men, resort to extreme measures to attain wealth and social status.
Addressing this crisis requires more than just police crackdowns. There must be a fundamental shift in societal values —one that prioritises ethical wealth over ill-gotten riches. Religious institutions, traditional rulers, and community leaders must take a firm stand against the glorification of questionable affluence.
The Evbuotubu incident is a grim reminder that Nigeria is still battling the scourge of ritual killings. Until society collectively condemns and rejects wealth acquired through bloodshed, such horrors will persist, leaving a trail of innocent victims in their wake.
Once upon a time, wealth in Nigerian society was synonymous with industry, resilience, and ingenuity. The elders of old (traders, craftsmen, farmers, and entrepreneurs) prided themselves on the sweat of their brows. A man’s affluence was a direct reflection of his diligence and years of toil.
Today, however, a corrosive paradigm has taken root, one that glorifies instant affluence, irrespective of the means through which it is obtained. The insidious doctrine of “making it by any means necessary” has replaced the time-honoured principle of hard work.
This paradigm shift is not accidental. It is the consequence of a deeply flawed value system where wealth, no matter how dubiously acquired, commands reverence. The very individuals who should be ostracised for their morally reprehensible conduct are, instead, venerated. This toxic culture emboldens desperate youth to explore even the most abhorrent means to attain affluence.
The most disheartening aspect of this trend is the complicity (both tacit and overt) of society’s supposed moral gatekeepers. Religious leaders, who should be the custodians of righteousness, have too often become enablers of corruption. In the grandiose edifices of faith, where the gospel of prosperity is preached with fervour, those with questionable sources of wealth are celebrated.
They are given front-row seats, called upon for prayers, and sometimes elevated to positions of religious leadership, all because their ill-gotten wealth fuels the construction of mega worship centres.
Traditional rulers, the custodians of Nigeria’s cultural ethos, are equally culpable. The hallowed institution of chieftaincy, once reserved for men of impeccable character, has been commercialised. Titles that once symbolised honour are now available to the highest bidder. The affluent, irrespective of their moral standing, are conferred with chieftaincy titles in elaborate ceremonies attended by society’s crème de la crème.
In many instances, these so-called ‘chiefs’ are known for their nefarious dealings, yet they are paraded as paragons of success.
The elite, politicians, and corporate magnates are not innocent either. Many continue to patronise, endorse, and associate with individuals whose wealth bears the stench of blood money. By doing so, they lend credibility to criminality and normalise the abnormal. When men who are rumoured to have amassed their fortunes through dark means are invited to state functions, given government contracts, or honoured in grand events, the message to the struggling youth is clear — wealth, regardless of its origin, is the ultimate measure of success.
The media, which should serve as society’s watchdog, is often a double-edged sword. While some journalists and media houses expose the nefarious activities of ritual killers, others glorify the very individuals whose sources of wealth are dubious. The extravagant lifestyles of these questionable figures are routinely splashed across the pages of newspapers, magazines, television, and online platforms, painting them as role models rather than cautionary tales.
Reality television, social media influencers, and music videos further exacerbate the problem by promoting a culture of ostentation. Young people, bombarded with images of expensive cars, lavish mansions, and extravagant vacations, begin to equate self-worth with material possessions. Those who lack the patience for legitimate wealth creation resort to criminality, with some taking the ultimate plunge into the dark world of ritual killings.
At the core of ritual killings is the utter dehumanization of victims. The perpetrators, in their frenzied pursuit of wealth, strip their victims of all humanity, reducing them to mere commodities for sacrifice. The gruesome nature of these killings — dismembered bodies, missing vital organs, and ritualistic symbols points to an eerie level of barbarism that should have no place in civilised society.
Many victims are unsuspecting individuals. Children are lured with sweets or money, young women deceived by fake lovers, and travellers waylaid by ritual syndicates. The lack of stringent security measures, poor law enforcement, and a failing judicial system embolden these criminals, who often evade justice or buy their way out of prosecution.
One of the greatest tragedies of Nigeria’s legal system is its failure to serve as a deterrent to ritual killers. Reports of arrests are frequent, but convictions are rare. The wheels of justice turn at a sluggish pace, and in many cases, perpetrators with financial clout secure their freedom.
Corruption within the police force further compounds the problem. Cases of ritual killings are sometimes swept under the carpet in exchange for bribes, leaving families of victims without closure. Even when cases proceed to court, the judiciary’s lethargy allows them to drag on indefinitely, creating a loophole for criminals to manoeuvre their way back into society.
If Nigeria is to rid itself of the scourge of ritual killings, a fundamental societal reorientation is imperative. The following measures must be taken:
Schools must incorporate value-based education that emphasises the dignity of labour and the dangers of illicit wealth.
The youth must be taught that wealth, when pursued through righteous means, is more fulfilling and sustainable; religious leaders must take an uncompromising stance against those who amass wealth through dubious means. Places of worship should cease to be sanctuaries for financial criminals.
Besides, traditional rulers should uphold the sanctity of their institutions by ensuring that only men and women of impeccable character are honoured – chieftaincy titles must not be ‘commoditised.’
More so, the media as watchdog of the society must prioritise investigative journalism that exposes ritual killers rather than glorify ostentatious lifestyles. Content creators should promote positive role models rather than individuals with questionable affluence.
Again, the police and judiciary must be restructured to ensure that ritual killers are swiftly apprehended, tried, and convicted.
There must be no sacred cows; the law must take its course without favouritism.
Moreover, citizens must become more vigilant and report suspicious activities. Neighbourhood watch groups should be empowered to work with security agencies in identifying and apprehending suspected ritualists.
Ritual killings in Nigeria are symptomatic of a deeper societal malaise — a value system that places wealth above humanity. The tragedy is not merely in the blood spilt but in the indifference with which society treats this growing menace. If the nation does not recalibrate its moral compass, the ritualistic shedding of human blood will continue unchecked, and our collective humanity will be the ultimate casualty.
Ritual killers are on the prowl, preying on unsuspecting victims across the country. These criminals lurk in both rural and urban areas, taking advantage of isolated locations, late hours, and unsuspecting individuals.
Parents and guardians must take proactive measures to safeguard their children and wards from falling victim to these nefarious acts. Educating young people about the dangers of accepting rides from strangers, wandering off alone, or engaging with unknown individuals is crucial. Additionally, people must exercise caution in their daily movements, ensuring they avoid desolate areas, especially at night.
Men and women alike must remain vigilant and prioritise personal safety. Walking alone on lonely paths or deserted streets, particularly in poorly lit areas, increases the risk of being targeted. Instead, people should move in groups whenever possible and be mindful of their surroundings. Until then, everyone must stay alert because in a society where ritual killers operate with impunity, personal vigilance is the first line of defence.
Let those who have ears listen and let those in positions of influence act. Posterity will not forgive a society that sacrifices its own on the altar of unbridled greed.
Odaro, a columnist, lectures in the Department of Mass Communication, Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi.
Warning: links in this post may lead to articles containing graphic details which may upset readers.
At first sight one may wonder why I include the following news article(s), ‘No record of ritual killings in Benue State’ according to police sources. ‘Good news’, one would say.
However, I remember several posts on this site reporting and commenting on killings for ritualistic motives in Benue State. Besides, I far from pretend to have covered all discovered ritual murder cases in Benue State in the past few years.
To be more precise, I point to the following posts (while reminding the reader that I only started this website in 2018):
What do you mean, ‘No record of ritual killings in Benue State’?
Below I’ve included five Nigerian newspaper articles with virtually the same text and bringing the same message – the same wrong message.
The conclusion is evident: One must always be careful to accept without question that what is written is true. (webmaster FVDK)
Background information:
Benue State is located in the North Central geopolitical zone of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Nigeria is divided into six geopolitical zones commonly called zones). With a surface area of 34,059 km2 Benue State ranks 11th (out of 36 states) and with a population of about 7 million people in 2024 it also occupies the 11th position. The capital of Benue State is Makurdi.
No record of ritual killings in Benue – Police
Published: March 3, 2025 By: Ejembi Ogwuche – Daily Post, Nigeria
The Benue State Police Command has said there is no record of ritual killings in the state.
This spokesperson of the command, CSP Catherine Anene made the assertion in Makurdi on Sunday.
She noted that although there are other crimes, there is no reported case of ritual killing in the state.
Anene also stressed that there is information or evidence about the existence of cannibals or human parts markets in the state.
“We don’t have intelligence reports of any human parts market in Benue.
“So we have not recorded any ritual killing; there are other crimes, but not this particular one.
Contrary to the news reports making rounds, the Benue State Police Command has said there is no record of ritual killings in the state.
debunking the purported report, the State Command Spokesperson, CSP Catherine Anene who spoke in Makurdi, noted that although there are other crimes, there is no reported case of ritual killing in the state.
Anene also stressed that there is information or evidence about the existence of cannibals or human parts markets in the state.
“We don’t have intelligence reports of any human parts market in Benue.
“So we have not recorded any ritual killing; there are other crimes, but not this particular one.
Contrary to the news reports making rounds, the Benue State Police Command has said there is no record of ritual killings in the state.
Debunking the purported report, the State Command Spokesperson, CSP Catherine Anene who spoke in Makurdi, noted that although there are other crimes, there is no reported case of ritual killing in the state.
Anene also stressed that there is information or evidence about the existence of cannibals or human parts markets in the state.
“We don’t have intelligence reports of any human parts market in Benue.
“So we have not recorded any ritual killing; there are other crimes, but not this particular one.
Published: March 3, 2025 By: EDIRI OYIBO – The News Guru, Nigeria
There has not been any record of ritual killing in Benue, the Police Command in the state has said.
The command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Sewuese Anene, told NAN on Sunday in Makurdi that there was no intelligence report to that effect.
Anene, however, admitted that though other crimes to some extent still persisted in the state, there were no reported cases of ritual killings.
She also stressed that there was also no information or evidence about the existence of cannibals or human parts market in the state.
“We don’t have intelligence reports of the existence of any human parts market in Benue.
“So we have not really recorded any ritual killing, there are other crimes, but not this particular one. We are always on red alert,” she said.
According to Mr Terwase Shagbaor, Founder, Benue Patriotic Youths Movement, the people only hear and read about ritual killings in the media.
Shagbaor said the state was yet to record such heinous crimes.
He, therefore, encouraged Benue people, especially the youths, to steer clear of crime.
Also a motorcyclist, Agada Ogli, said that though his job entailed riding on the road day and night, he was yet to come across any suspected case of ritual killing in Benue.
Ogli, who also said motorcyclists often come across all kinds of crimes in the line of their duty, ritual killing was not one of them.
Published: March , 2025 By: dolotop– National Accord, Nigeria
There has not been any record of ritual killing in Benue, the Police Command in the state has said.
The command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Sewuese Anene, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) , on Sunday in Makurdi that there was no intelligence report to that effect.
Anene, however, admitted that though other crimes to some extent still persisted in the state, there were no reported cases of ritual killings.
She also stressed that there was also no information or evidence about the existence of cannibals or human parts market in the state.
“We don’t have intelligence reports of the existence of any human parts market in Benue.
“So we have not really recorded any ritual killing, there are other crimes, but not this particular one. We are always on red alert,” she said.
According to Mr Terwase Shagbaor, Founder, Benue Patriotic Youths Movement, the people only hear and read about ritual killings in the media.
Shagbaor said the state was yet to record such heinous crimes.
He, therefore, encouraged Benue people, especially the youths, to steer clear of crime.
Also a motorcyclist, Agada Ogli, said that though his job entailed riding on the road day and night, he was yet to come across any suspected case of ritual killing in Benue.
Ogli, who also said motorcyclists often come across all kinds of crimes in the line of their duty, ritual killing was not one of them. (NAN)
The following series of articles I found both interesting and relevant to include here despite their gruesome contents. Introduction under construction (webmaster FVDK)
Please note: Unfortunately, references to links to related articles in the copied article(s) below don/t work. Interested readers are recommended to use the original text, if available.
‘Cleansing’ ceremony to save a ‘bewitched’ woman’s life in Kilifi turns tragic
Published: December 1, 2024 By: Brian Ocharo – Nation, Kenya
The Aged, On Edge – Witchcraft and Abuse of the Elderly in Kilifi and Kwame County (Kenya)
By Fr Gabriel Dolan, ED Haki Yetu, July 2023.
“Haki Yetu which means “Our Rights” in Swahili was created to combat oppression, injustice and promote human rights as a principle for social justice in our communities of interest.” (Source: Haki Yetu, Inc.)
For the readers’ convenience follows the Table of Contents. Interested readers are advised to use the link below to gain access to the document.
Table of Contents Acknowledgement i Abbreviations iii Foreword iv CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 Introduction 1 1.2 The concept of witchcraft at the Coast 4 1.2.1 The potency of accusations 6 1.2.2 Oath taking and cleansing rituals 7
CHAPTER TWO: WITCHCRAFT RELATED RIGHTS VIOLATIONS 10 2.1 Introduction 10 2.2 Witchcraft related Homicide 11 2.2.1 Murder trends in Kilifi 13 2.2.2 Murder trends in Kwale 14 2.3 Emerging Trends 16 2.3.1 ‘Bebabeba’ and Rise of the killings 16 2.3.2 ‘Waombezi’ – the prophets of doom 16 2.3.3 Access to Justice for Victims and Survivors 18
CHAPTER THREE: CONTRIBUTORY FACTORS 20 3.1 Land Ownership Disputes 20 3.2 Administrative Inaction and Corruption 23 3.3 Weak Legislations and Enforcement Pathways 25 3.4 Ignorance/Misinformation/Lack of Awareness 28
CHAPTER FOUR: LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK 31 4.1 The Constitution of Kenya, 2010 32 4.2 The Witchcraft Act, CAP 67 Laws of Kenya 33 4.3 Witness Protection Act, CAP 79 36 4.4 The AU Protocol to the ACHPR on the Rights of Older Persons in Africa 37
CHAPTER FIVE: MVI SI UCHAWI CAMPAIGN 40 5.1 Haki Yetu’s interventions 40 5.2 Impact of Haki Yetu’s Interventions 45 5.3 Lessons learned challenges and good practices 46
‘She tried to bargain for her life’: Woman recounts granny’s plea to killer mob
Published: October 21, 2021 By: Ruth Mbula – Nation Media Group, Kenya
Relatives at the home of Sindega Maya, 83, in Marina on Monday. Maya was among four women lynched after they were accused of engaging inn witchcraft. (Ondari Omega / National Media Group).
Leo Igwe is a famous human rights activist, an indefatigable fighter against superstition, witchcraft and ritualistic murders. In 2020 he started Advocacy for Alleged Witches. In this blog he regularly publishes on the lives of those affected by superstition and his organization’s efforts to save and/or to improve their lives.
The list of his achievements is too long to cite here, for shortness sake readers are referred to the internet where he is widely present.
In a recent article published in Ghana Leo Igwe gives his views on witchcraft and the need to effectively fight superstition, not only in this West African country, but in all African countries. He does not hide his views and feelings, as will be clear when reading the following essay.
No need to elaborate further on his message. Let me invite you to start reading while praising Leo Igwe and the valuable work he’s doing! (webmaster FVDK)
Witchcraft accusations and critical thinking: combating harmful effects of dogma and superstitions in Africa
Published: October 28, 2024 By: Leo Igwe – GhanaWeb
Leo Igwe works and campaigns to foster critical thinking skills in schools
Sometimes information on the occurrence of ritual likings or specific ritualistic murders is hidden in articles and/or books. One has to read between the lines to discover a reference to these age-old, cruel, outdated and criminal practices.
Such was the case when I recently read an article written by Martha Mukaiwa, a writer and journalist based in Windhoek, Namibia. She is also a writer in residence at the International Writer Program.
Martha Mukaiwa recently gave us her view on Namibia as a peaceful country. In fact, she provides many examples to the contrary.
In an article published by The Namibian, she presents a picture of Namibia which is different from what we expect. The at times gruesome facts she presents are shocking and convincing. Besides, it is my honest view that one always has to listen to what people who know a country well have to say about their native country.
Martha Mukaiwa provides us with an insight in this southwestern African country which is not known in detail to the outside world. In particular she focuses on gender-based violence and the plight of LGBTQI+ people in Namibia. I fully share and support her plea for a more peaceful Namibia.
Therefor I wish to recommend her article. Moreover, Namibia does not often strike headlines with respect to ritualistic killings. Hence another reason why Martha Mukaiwa’s article deserves reading. For that reason I’ve included it below. (webmaster FVDK)
Peace in Namibia?
Published: May 18, 2024 By: Martha Mukaiwa – The Namibian
The tale many of us like to tell is that Namibia is a peaceful country.
It’s a mantra we repeat, as if saying it incessantly will make it entirely true, as if to be at peace is simply to not be at literal war.
When struggles for independence near their end, most nations begin the work of penning promises and predicting the future.
They compose constitutions. They write about themselves in golden, glowing terms, assuring things like freedom, prosperity and peace.
But just because a nation is not at war does not mean it’s not beset with a spirit of violence.
The same beating, bloody compulsion that shouts from daily newspapers as they speak of countless murdered women, six slain LGBTQI+ citizens in the last nine months and myriad of unnamed rape victims violated on their way to work, on their way to school, on their way to anywhere.
So where, pray tell, is this peace?
This peace of mind, freedom from violence, from murder and from vanishing?
Is it in Kavango East, where a string of murders, many victims missing body parts, remain unsolved as locals whisper of ritual killings? (italics added by the webmaster FVDK)
Is it in the traumatised soul of the eight-year-old boy at Okalale village who, in less than a decade on this earth, has learnt that the punishment for stealing food is to be beaten with an electrical cable before being doused in boiling water?
I don’t dare look for peace in the life of a Windhoek woman who seemed to foresee her own fate.
“Gender-based violence has always been there. It has become a norm to some men. When the beating stops, they resort to killing, mind you, this should not be called passion killing ’cause there’s nothing passionate about it,” she wrote on Facebook in 2019.
“As a country we have turned a blind eye to the growing issue, this needs to be curbed before it escalates beyond return.”
And return she shall not.
Helen Onesmus was murdered in February this year.
Reports about her death allege she was killed by her husband and that they were in the process of divorcing.
Perhaps Onesmus’ peace was on the other side of such a separation, but no one and, most tragically, she will never know.
Onesmus joins a growing list of women murdered by local men this year.
Sixty-four-year-old Helena Wemmert was reportedly robbed, raped and murdered at her home at Rehoboth in January, when the suspect was out on bail regarding another murder case.
Reports say Lizelda Xoagus’ husband murdered her with a kitchen knife at their home at Grootfontein, stabbing her multiple times before pouring acid on her body in April.
Later that month, Delia Weimers-Maasdorp’s body was found wrapped in a blanket at her home in Klein Windhoek. A male suspect has been arrested for her murder.
Peace?
Pekakurua Sylvia Kaimu, mother of nine-year-old Avihe Cheryl Ujaha, says Avihe’s death will haunt her forever.
Avihe’s raped, mutilated and partially dismembered body was found dumped in a riverbed in 2018 and the case remains cold. (italics added by the webmaster FVDK)
Unlike Avihe, two teen girls raped in a riverbed at Rehoboth survived to tell their tale of returning from a prayer session only to be violated at knifepoint in January.
Ask the women, children and LGBTQI+ people of this country about peace and you’ll find there is, in fact, little to be had.
There is no peace when you fear rape and murder in your own home or in your community.
There is no peace in cold cases, in perpetrators roaming among us or when your country has zero functional safe houses for adult victims of gender-based violence.
There is even less when you worry your child won’t come home after going out to play.
There is certainly no peace when six members of your community have been brutally murdered in the last nine months and calls to criminalise your LGBTQI+ identities blare in the hate speech stoked by political and religious leaders in online comment sections, in malicious WhatsApp groups and in the street.
Namibia is a peaceful country, we say, as if many of its people, most often men, are not regularly, brutally and, at times, fatally violent.
Once, maybe, this brave and undeniably beautiful land may have been every bit of its post-independence ideals.
Perhaps, it was even the epitome of peaceful.
But years pass, promises fade and we must eventually see our current selves for who we truly are.
The first step in recovery is admitting we have a problem.
– martha@namibian.com.na; Martha Mukaiwa on Twitter and Instagram; marthamukaiwa.com
The following article contains a weird story. It’s not about a ritual murder or ritualistic act, although witchcraft could be included in the category of ritualistic acts. The common base is superstition and the belief in the supernatural impact of one’s occult acts or deeds.
Adamawa State is located in located in the North East geopolitical zone of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Federal Republic of Nigeria is divided into six geopolitical zones commonly called zones.
For the official website of the Adawama State government: click here
Man confesses to being a witch and turning his neighbour into a chicken in AdamawaState
Published: August 15, 2023 By: Azonuchechi Chukwu – Naija247News, Nigeria
Ms Azonuchechi Chukwu has a BSC holder in mass communication Ebonyi State University
A 23-year-old man identified as Tangla Isuwa, was almost lynched to death in Adamawa State after he allegedly confessed to being a witch and turning his neighbour, Danladi Markus, “to a chicken for three weeks.”
Tangla, who hails from Dong community in Demsa Local Government Area of the state, allegedly said he bewitched Markus and made him sick for allegedly killing his father by witchcraft in the community.
It was gathered that some youths in the community descended on Tangla and beat him up in an attempt to kill him for the alleged crime.
Spokesman of the state police command, SP Suleiman Yahaya Nguroje, who confirmed the incident on Monday, August 14, 2023, said about 15 persons have been arrested for allegedly assaulting the suspect.
During interrogation by the PPRO, Tangla said that in 2020, a man known as Mabudi gave him charms to fortify himself, explaining that Mabudi had asked him to mix the charms with white chicken and eat after cooking it.
Tangla said after he had eaten the chicken mixed the charms, he started seeing animals like rats, horses and cattle with 3 legs and sometimes 6 legs without other people seeing them.
Tangla said that it was at this point in time that he knew he had been initiated into occultism, saying that since then, he became a full fledged witch.
He further narrated that his biological father died this year, and alleged that it was Danladi Markus and his step father known as Absalom who killed him by witchcraft.
According to him, after the death of his father, he met Mabudi and informed him about his plan to retaliate by killing Danladi Markus by witchcraft.
He said that he caught Danladi’s spirit by 2:00am and handed him over to other witches where they tied him with ropes on a mango tree, saying that Danladi became critically ill.
He pointed out that a family meeting was summoned, and that at the meeting, Danladi started mentioning his name and that of Mabudi as those responsible for his sickness
He said that Mabudi escaped from the venue of the meeting leaving him behind, and that immediately, some youths in the community stormed the meeting and forced him to “lose” Danladi or be killed.
Tangla explained that he had pleaded with the youths to wait until 12:00am for him to lose Danladi and assured them that he won’t be killed.
According to him, he went into the spirit and untied him, but that he suffered a lot because Mabudi did not want him to “lose Danladi but to slaughter him for meat.”
Tangla Isuwa assured that he had succeeded in releasing Danladi and that he is at the moment sound and healthy.
He insisted that he is a witch but vehemently denied killing anybody.
Niger State is no exception to the general observation that ritualistic murders are being committed in each of Nigeria’s 36 states (and the Federal Capital Territory). Though I certainly have not covered all recently reported and suspected ritual murder cases in Niger state, which is located in the North central Region of Nigeria, I did report a few since the start of this site in 2018. See my postings of September 15, 2019, August 30, 2022, and February 21, 2023.
Niger State is Nigeria’s largest state covering a total area of 76,363 km2 (29,484 sq mi), approximately 9% of the total land area. The state capital is Minna, major cities include Bida, Kontagora, Suleja, and Wawa. Niger State’s total population is an estimated 7 million people and composed of numerous indigenous tribes.
The state’s population is mainly muslim, hence Niger State is one of Nigeria’s states where the Sharia law was adopted – since May 4, 2000. The state is also known as The Power State because of its economic potential and abundant natural resources including coal, crude oil, gold, iron ore, phosphate, tin, and uranium.
A Niger State High Court sentenced a convicted ritual murderer, Tunde Tayo, to death by hanging. He was convicted to have murdered for ritual purposes Abdullahi Janiya Yahaya, in Minna in 2019.
Though I strongly support the prosecution of suspected ritual murderers and the rule of law, I have my doubt about the effectiveness of the capital punishment as a deterrent. The phenomenon of ritualistic murders is too complicated to eradicate by only harsh punishments. (webmaster FVDK)
Niger Court Sentences Man To Death By Hanging for ritual murder
Published: January 11, 2024 By: Abu Nmodu – Leadership, Nigeria
A Niger State High Court has convicted and sentenced one Tunde Tayo to death by hanging for the murder of Abdullahi Janiya Yahaya in Maitumbi area of Minna. He was accused of conniving with his friend now at large to kill Yahaya for ritual purpose by cutting his head and burying his body in a shallow grave around Maitumbi area of Minna in 2019. The judge, Justice Mohammed Mohammed handed down the sentence yesterday in a judgement delivered for over two hours.
After reviewing the case and submissions of the parties involved, Justice Mohammed held that the circumstantial evidence against the accused by the prosecutor was strong, cogent and direct. The judge reviewed that the convict was arraigned on two count charges of robbery and culpable homicide under sections 298 and 221 of the penal code.
The judge, reviewed that the convict admitted in his statement to the police that he owns the uncompleted building, that the body was buried adding that, “although he denied killing the deceased, circumstantial evidence established that he was last seen with the deceased and that he committed the crime.”
The judge said, “On the charge of robbery on section 298 of penal code, you are sentenced to life imprisonment. On the second count charges of culpable homicide under section 221 of the penal code law, you, Tunde Tayo is hereby convicted and sentenced to death by hanging until you die. May Almighty God have mercy on your soul”.
Though it’s not a recently reported crime which follows below, it’s worth drawing attention to the criminal superstition which motivates unscrupulous perpetrators to attack bald people. The practice of murdering bald people for ritualistic purposes is not a great exception in Mozambique and neighboring countries. See my June 24, 2018 posting, Mozambique police warn bald men after ritual attack. Another interesting part of the crime reported below is the involvement of a man from Mali, in West Africa, about 6,000 km away from Mozambique. Apparently, superstition knows no borders. (webmaster FVDK)
Bald man decapitated in ritual attack
Published: January 17, 2022 By: Myjoyonline.com – source: BBC
Police in Mozambique say the head of a bald man has been removed by criminals who wanted to sell it to a client from Mali.
When their customer disappeared, they left it in the central town of Muandiwa.
Some Mozambicans believe bald men’s heads contain gold.
The first reports of bald men being killed for their heads in the country were back in 2017.
The trade in body parts is relatively common in Mozambique, Malawi and Tanzania where they are believed to bring fortune and luck in love.
The body parts of people with albinism are especially prized.
