‘That is not African tradition’: Traditional healers condemn muthi murders and child abuse in South Africa
Published: January 12, 2026 By: Jonisayi Maromo – IOL, South Africa
South Africa has for decades grappled with the scourge of child mutilation and abuse cases in which body parts, especially those of children, are used in brutal rituals purported to enhance wealth or bring good fortune.
In some instances, children are sexually abused as part of so-called rituals falsely believed to provide healing or prosperity for the perpetrator.
Traditional healers, commonly known as sangomas, are often implicated in these heinous acts. Some have been arrested by the South African Police Service (SAPS), while others have been attacked by community members when such incidents come to light.
During an intensive police operation at Hlabeni, under the Saselamani policing area, officers arrested the two suspects. One of them, a traditional healer from Muraga village under the Thohoyandou policing precinct, was allegedly found in possession of the severed heads of the victims.
“Further police investigations led the members to the residence of a 38-year-old traditional healer at Muraga village under the Thohoyandou precinct. The traditional healer was allegedly found in possession of the missing heads of the two victims and was also placed under arrest,” Limpopo police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said at the time.
Police said a credible lead resulted in the discovery of the bodies of the mother and child, after which the suspects were immediately linked to the crime and arrested.
Against this backdrop, IOL this week travelled to Ekangala, and spoke to celebrity sangoma Mandla Lekhuleni, popularly known as Prof Lekhuleni, on the sidelines of a traditional celebration attended by healers from South Africa and Mozambique.
“Speaking the truth does not break any friendship or a spaza shop. Those people using body parts of children or albinos — that is a crime. There is no such thing,” Lekhuleni said. “Since I started practising, I was never taught that if you want money or your business to grow, you must kill someone or use human blood. That is 100% criminal.”
He rejected claims that human sacrifice forms part of African traditional healing.
“I hear people saying sangomas use human sacrifices to make people rich. That is not what I learnt or what my gobela taught me. I was taught to go to the mountains, to rivers, to dig and collect medicine from nature — herbs that help uplift a person who is down,” he said.
Traditional medicine and rituals are widely believed across South Africa and in Africa to help cure illnesses or improve people’s livelihoods. Lekhuleni, who has a large social media following, regularly shares content about traditional healing practices.
“In my indumba (traditional room where a sangoma practices), you will never find even a small human bone. Killing someone to make another person rich is not African traditional medicine. African traditional medicine uses herbs, sometimes combined with iziwasho ,” he said.
“That is pure criminality, and I am willing to assist the police. Wherever such so-called traditional healers are found, I will work with the police to ensure they are arrested and never practise again. They must never see the light of day.”
Lekhuleni said traditional healers across the Southern African Development Community were increasingly alarmed by the rise in so-called muthi murders and were working together to combat the practice.
From Maputo, Mozambique, prominent traditional healer Rei Magoxa said ritual killings had tarnished the work of genuine African traditionalists.
“As someone representing SADC, I want to make it clear that this is not our habit and not from us as traditional healers,” he said. “Traditional healers do not do this. Perhaps there are people with bad habits using our name, but we do not know where this comes from.”
“The law must take its course against such people, because this is not part of African traditional healing,” Magoxa added.
Academic and traditional health practitioner Sefadi Mohami echoed these sentiments, describing perpetrators of muthi murders as criminals masquerading as healers.
“That is not us, and it cannot be done under our name,” Mohami said. “As traditional healers, we are custodians of African traditions and amadlozi (ancestors). We represent those who walked before us, including kings and queens, and our work must be carried out with dignity.”
Mohami, who is affiliated with the SADC University of African Medicine, said the institution had taken a firm stance against ritual killings and child abuse.
“We are saying no to ritual killings. We are saying no to the abuse of children and to children being molested in the name of traditional healing. That is not us,” he said. “Unfortunately, it is happening under our name, but those responsible are thugs and have nothing to do with African traditional healing.”
Gauteng spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Lumka Mahanjana, said a charge of premeditated murder was also added against the baby’s mother, Kuneuwe Portia Shalaba.
The 32-year-old mother was previously facing charges of human trafficking, conspiracy to commit robbery and making a false statement to the police.
“It is alleged that on 10 November 2024, the mother of the child (Kuneuwe) took the child to the sangoma (Khounyana) and requested him to kill her child because she was not happy with the gender of the baby and was tired of hiding it from her family. The child (Kutlwano) was a girl,” said Mahanjana.
“The mother then allegedly fed the baby poison, and after the baby died, it is alleged that the two took the child and buried her body in a shallow grave in Waterpan.”
Ritual killings in Uganda are rampant. I have frequently paid attention to this scourge which terrifies the population of this East-African country. In the current year alone I published eight posts on ritualistic crimes. According to official sources, police recorded at least 78 cases of ritual killings in 2024 (NB: more the one every week!), up from 62 cases in 2023 and 49 in 2022. Reportedly, children make up a significant proportion of the victims. However, it cannot be excluded that reported cases are only the tip of the iceberg. Human right groups in Uganda claim that many ritual murder cases go unreported (see below).
In his 2025 annual Christmas message, the Kabaka of Buganda, Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II, commented on the growing number of children who were reported missing and were later found dead, brutally murdered, and in some cases with body parts missing.
Read the full story below. (webmaster FVDK)
Kabaka Condemns Ritual Killings and Urges Protection of Children
The Kabaka also warned about the return of violent criminal gangs, including machete-wielding attackers who target people at night, saying the combination of ritual killings and organised crime had heightened insecurity.
The Kabaka of Buganda, Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II, has strongly condemned the rise in ritual killings in Uganda, especially those involving children, warning that the resurgence of such crimes is spreading fear in communities and threatening public safety.
In his annual Christmas message, the cultural monarch said there were growing reports of children going missing and later being found brutally murdered, with some cases involving mutilation.
“We continue to hear reports of people whose children disappear and never return. Later we read in newspapers that some children are brutally killed and their body parts cut off,” the Kabaka said, adding that many Ugandans had believed such acts were a thing of the past.
“We thought these crimes had ended, but they have resurfaced again,” he said.
Uganda Police Force data shows that ritual murders remain a serious concern.
According to the force’s latest annual crime report, police recorded at least 78 cases of ritual killings in 2024, up from 62 cases in 2023 and 49 in 2022. Police say children make up a significant proportion of the victims. (italics and bold letter type added by the webmaster FVDK).
Authorities have linked many of the killings to criminal networks exploiting beliefs in quick wealth or power through human sacrifice, with cases reported mainly in rural districts across central and eastern Uganda.
The Kabaka also warned about the return of violent criminal gangs, including machete-wielding attackers who target people at night, saying the combination of ritual killings and organised crime had heightened insecurity.
He urged parents and communities to take extra precautions to protect children, particularly during the festive season.
Children
“We appeal to everyone to be vigilant and to protect ourselves and our children, especially during this festive period,” he said.
The monarch called on security agencies to step up efforts to protect citizens and their property, warning that failure to act decisively emboldens criminals and erodes public trust.
“Protecting life is a shared duty,” he said, stressing the importance of moral upbringing, community vigilance and cooperation between cultural institutions, local leaders and the state.
Uganda outlawed ritual sacrifice under the Prevention and Prohibition of Human Sacrifice Act, but rights groups say enforcement gaps remain and many cases go unreported due to fear of reprisals. (italics and bold letter type added by the webmaster FVDK).
Sanwo-Olu, others seek continental battle against human trafficking, ritual killings
Published: October 28, 2025 By: Adebisi Onanuga – The Nation Online, Nigeria
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State yesterday urged African leaders to form a united continental front against human trafficking and ritual killings.
He described human trafficking and ritual killings as “heinous crimes that strip victims of their dignity and humanity.”
The governor spoke through the Secretary to the Lagos State Government, Mrs. Abimbola Salu-Hundeyin, at the First Annual Africa Colloquium Against Human Trafficking.
The colloquium was convened by the state’s Ministry of Justice and held at Radisson Blu Hotel, Isaac John Street, GRA, Ikeja.
Governor Sanwo-Olu said the fight against ritual abuse and human trafficking must transcend borders, institutions, and communities if Africa must reclaim its moral integrity.
“Human trafficking is not an abstract problem — it is real and close to home.
“It affects millions across Africa, especially women and children, through forced labour, sexual exploitation, domestic servitude, and ritual abuse. Behind every statistic is a name, a face, and a story of pain that we must never ignore.”
The governor described the colloquium, themed ‘A United Front Against Ritual Abuse and Sacrifice’, as a “continental rallying point for Africa’s moral awakening,” stressing that collaboration among governments, NGOs, law enforcement, and communities is key to dismantling trafficking networks.
According to him, “The words ‘A United Front’ remind us that this evil knows no boundaries. It can only be defeated through shared action, intelligence, and compassion.
He condemned the myths and superstitions fuelling ritual killings, describing them as “barbaric relics that have no place in a modern, progressive Africa.”
“Governments must work with civil society, religious and traditional leaders, and even the private sector to expose traffickers and protect victims”, he said
Sanwo-Olu emphasized that public enlightenment remains crucial in breaking the chain of silence that sustains human trafficking and ritual practices.
“We must educate our communities about the signs of trafficking and empower them to report suspicious activities.
“We must also strengthen our laws to ensure offenders are swiftly prosecuted while victims receive proper care and rehabilitation.”
The Governor noted that the Lagos State Task Force Against Human Trafficking, in partnership with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and international organisations, has intensified prosecution, public education, and survivor rehabilitation.
“But the government alone cannot win this fight. It demands a coalition of justice ministries, law enforcement, community leaders, and faith-based organisations.”
“We must defeat these dangerous myths that equate human life with power, success, or protection.
“Our progress must be built on knowledge, empathy, and faith in lawful advancement — not blood”, he said.
“Let this colloquium mark the day we moved from words to work.
“Together, as one united front, we will protect our people, punish the perpetrators, and restore dignity to those harmed”, he said.
“This is our moment to declare that our people are not for sale, our children are not sacrifices, and our future will never be built on fear or blood,” he said.
The Governor affirmed Lagos State’s commitment to lead Africa’s regional campaign against human trafficking and ritual abuse.
The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), in his address at the colloquium reaffirmed federal government’s commitment to intensifying the fight against human trafficking, ritual exploitation, and migrant smuggling across Africa describing them as “crimes that diminish humanity and betray the principles of human rights.”
The AGF who was represented by Team Lead for Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants (TIPSOM) at the Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Ezinne Nwokoro, said the government is determined to dismantle trafficking networks through coordinated legal, diplomatic, and community-based responses.
Mrs Nwokoro said the Attorney-General of the Federation has prioritized anti-trafficking reform through a combination of legislative review, enhanced partnership with NAPTIP, and expanded international cooperation frameworks.
“These reforms are building systems that not only punish offenders but prevent trafficking before it begins,” she said.
“We are creating a future where justice is accessible, survivors are supported, and the vulnerable are no longer prey.”
She declared the federal government’s full support for the outcomes of the colloquium and urged all participants to move from dialogue to action.
“This is not just another event,” she said, adding ,“it is a call to conscience — a gathering of people working, in different ways, to confront the painful reality of human trafficking, ritual abuse, and human sacrifice in Africa.”
According to her, ritual-linked trafficking represents an even darker evolution of the crime. “Traffickers no longer just exploit poverty and desperation — they exploit belief systems and cultural fears.
“Victims are often made to take oaths or undergo rituals designed to enslave them psychologically, making escape almost impossible. We’ve seen this pattern in cases within Nigeria and from other African countries”, she said.
Mrs. Nwokoro noted that this emerging dimension makes collaboration indispensable, adding, “if traffickers can collaborate across borders, so must we.
“We need more than laws; we need communities that are vigilant, justice systems that protect, and survivor voices that lead.
“Let this not just be a conference,” she said, “but a call to action — one guided by the stories of survivors and the responsibility we all share to protect them.
“The fight against human trafficking is not one government’s struggle; it is humanity’s shared duty. Together, we can build an Africa where no one is for sale, no one is sacrificed, and every life is valued,”, he said.
The Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Lawal Pedro, (SAN), urged African nations to unite in action against the growing scourge of ritual killings and human trafficking, describing the crimes as “commercialised evil” that thrive on poverty, desperation, and silence.”
Pedro said the event was “not just another conference but a continental call to conscience aimed at reclaiming the sanctity of human life in Africa.
“Ritual abuse and human sacrifices are not myths. They are real, expanding, and destroying lives across our communities,” the Attorney-General declared.
Pedro cited disturbing cases across Nigeria that reveal the deepening connection between human trafficking and ritual crimes.
He recalled recent incidents including the abduction and murder of two seven-year-old cousins, Chizaram and Chidinma Onuche, in Port Harcourt; the killing of a college student in Ilorin for ritual purposes; and the arrest of two pastors in Rivers State found with coffins and skulls.
“These are not isolated tragedies,” he said.
According to him, “the National Bureau of Statistics recorded over 150 ritual killings in six months, many involving youths deceived by the false promise of quick wealth.”(italics added by the webmaster FVDK).
He lamented that human trafficking has evolved into a global, organised, and highly profitable enterprise.
He described human trafficking as a high-profit, low-risk crime linked to organised criminal networks.
He said globally, profits from human trafficking are estimated at 236 billion dollars annually,” he said.
Pedro, who also chairs the Lagos State Task Force Against Human Trafficking, outlined the state’s multi-pronged response to the menace.
He said: “between 2022 and 2024, over 4,700 victims were rescued and supported, while five million residents were reached through community awareness campaigns.”
He highlighted the enactment of the Lagos State Organ Harvesting Prohibition Law 2024, which criminalises organ trafficking and imposes severe penalties on offenders, including medical professionals involved in illegal human organ trade.
Pedro stressed that no single nation can win the battle alone, urging African countries to collaborate across borders in prevention, prosecution, and victim protection.
“This evil will continue to thrive where nations fail to collaborate,” he said. “Africa must rise — not in rhetoric but in responsibility.”
He commended Pepperdine University and the Sudreau Global Justice Institute for partnering with Lagos since 2022 on justice reforms, adding that their collaboration had grown into a continental mission against human trafficking and ritual crimes.
“Let history say that from Lagos in 2025, Africa took a stand and never turned back,” he said. “Let us refuse to accept the killing of our children as normal, reject the exploitation of women, and silence that empowers crime. When Africa chooses unity over isolation, we can protect the vulnerable and safeguard human dignity.”
The Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Kazeem Alogba, in his address, described human trafficking and ritual abuse as a global pandemic deeply rooted in the history of slavery.
He called for stronger community vigilance, legal enforcement, and international collaboration to eradicate the menace.
Justice Alogba urged local communities to take the lead in identifying and reporting suspicious activities. “If the community does not perceive human trafficking and ritual abuse as wrong, perpetrators will continue to go unpunished. Every citizen must be their neighbour’s keeper,” he added.
Justice Alogba lamented that centuries after the abolition of slavery, its modern offshoots — human trafficking, ritual killings, and organ trade — still thrive under different guises for economic purposes.
“Ritual abuse and sacrifice are grim offshoots of slavery, initially driven by economic motives,” he stated.
The Chief Judge stressed that the problem cannot be effectively addressed without tackling the social and cultural beliefs that continue to justify the exploitation of human beings.
“Our cultural ethos must be properly investigated. The use of human beings for rituals or any form of abuse, no matter how it is rationalized, is evil. The fight must start from our communities,” he said.
Justice Alogba emphasized the need for proper training and motivation for law enforcement and investigative officers, describing them as the “foot soldiers” in the anti-trafficking campaign. According to him, traffickers are now well-organized and heavily funded, requiring equal sophistication in combating their operations.
While acknowledging the efforts of the Lagos State Government, Justice Alogba commended the legislature for enacting stiff penalties against offenders and pledged that the judiciary would enforce the law with strictness.
“The Lagos judiciary will ensure that anyone found guilty of trafficking or ritual abuse faces stringent punishment in accordance with the law,” he assured.
The Chief Judge called for broader collaboration beyond Africa, noting that trafficking networks have become intercontinental. He concluded by stressing that sustained public sensitization and awareness are critical to winning the battle.
“Government, communities, and individuals must unite against this social pandemic. Sensitization and education remain our strongest tools,” he said.
The Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Mrs. Binta Bello warned that the growing nexus between ritual abuse, human sacrifice, and human trafficking poses a grave threat to Africa’s moral fabric and security.
The NAPTIP DG who was represented by the Director of Intelligence, Mr. Josiah Emerole, described ritual-linked trafficking as one of the “darkest and most complex forms of human exploitation” that has for too long escaped direct confrontation.”
“The intersection between ritual abuse and human trafficking is not theoretical — it is a lived reality for countless victims,” she said. “In Nigeria and across West Africa, young people are being trapped in cycles of exploitation by fear, superstition, and coercion disguised as culture.”
Bello explained that from the early years of NAPTIP’s operations, investigators confronted the use of juju oaths, fetish rituals, and sacrifices to silence victims trafficked abroad for sexual exploitation. “Victims were forced to take deadly oaths before native priests, binding them into fear and obedience,” she said. “These rituals were more powerful than chains; they enslaved the mind.”
Although NAPTIP has since achieved major progress — including the 2017 intervention of the Benin Monarch to abolish ritual oaths — Bello lamented that ritual abuse has not disappeared.
“It has simply evolved, travelling across borders and taking new forms in destination countries,” she said.
She cited a 2008 incident in which a voodoo priest arrested by NAPTIP died mysteriously in custody after warning officers not to cross certain rivers — a case that led to the arrest of NAPTIP officers by police investigators.
“Such incidents complicate prosecutions, stall investigations, and sometimes erode public confidence,” she explained. “These crimes are not just spiritual or cultural; they are legal and human rights issues that demand coordinated action.”
Bello also revealed that investigating ritual-linked trafficking remains one of the most challenging aspects of law enforcement.
The NAPTIP boss cited data from the National Bureau of Statistics showing that over 150 ritual killings were recorded in the first half of 2025 alone, with women and youths as major victims. The National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), she noted, also documented over 168 ritual-related deaths in 2022 and nearly 100 in 2024.(italics added by the webmaster FVDK)
“These are not random acts of violence,” she stressed. “They are symptoms of a deeper disease — poverty, inequality, erosion of values, and belief in the efficacy of human sacrifice as a path to success. Weak law enforcement and judicial bottlenecks have further emboldened perpetrators.”
According to her, the Lagos colloquium marks a historic moment for Africa’s anti-trafficking movement.
Bello said the gathering aligns with Nigeria’s National Action Plan on Human Trafficking (2022–2026), which rests on five pillars: Policy, Prevention, Protection, Prosecution, and Partnerships.
Bello pledged NAPTIP’s full commitment to implementing the outcomes of the colloquium in collaboration with domestic and international partners.
“By putting ritual abuse at the centre of this global discussion, we are redefining the future of counter-trafficking work,” she affirmed.
“The lives of our children and women are too precious to be sacrificed at the altar of greed or superstition. The dignity of our people is sacred — and the cost of inaction is far too high.”
Director of the Sudreau Global Justice Institute, Pepperdine University, USA, Prof. Cameron Collum, also called for a united African response to end ritual abuse and human sacrifice, describing the practices as “pure evil” that must be confronted through collective action, policy reform, and justice system strengthening across the continent.
Prof. Collum praised Nigeria’s renowned hospitality and the choice of Lagos as the host city, saying the state represents “the heartbeat of Africa” and a continental leader capable of influencing change.
He explained that Pepperdine University, based in Los Angeles, California, operates on five continents and is committed to using academic resources to make tangible social impact.
“We don’t want to be a university lost in academic theories; we want to work alongside leaders to achieve real results,” he said.
According to him, Pepperdine’s partnership with Africa began over 20 years ago in Uganda, when the university helped establish a fast-track juvenile justice system that expedited trials for detained minors. The initiative, he said, led to the creation of a broader plea-bargaining system that improved access to justice and reduced prolonged pre-trial detentions.
“Uganda’s success story inspired other countries to replicate similar reforms, and today, we are working with nearly 20 African nations on justice initiatives — including anti-human trafficking and rule of law projects,” Collum noted.
He stressed that while human trafficking is widely acknowledged and addressed globally, ritual abuse and human sacrifice remain largely unspoken issues. “Everywhere I go, leaders acknowledge ritual killings as a real problem, yet few programs tackle it. This conference aims to change that by starting a Pan-African conversation to end these atrocities,” he declared.
Collum said the two-day colloquium was designed to be action-oriented rather than academic, bringing together about 200 delegates from 15 African countries, including policymakers, judges, prosecutors, NGOs, and community leaders.
“With collaboration, courage, and leadership from places like Nigeria, I believe we can end the evil of ritual sacrifice once and for all,” he concluded.
What can I add? I am so glad with the mounting interest in the importance of the fight against ritual killing, human sacrifice, witchcraft and superstition! Read the good news below. (webmaster FVDK)
Lagos AG, CJ call for continental front to confront ritual killings, trafficking
Published: October 23, 2025 By: Israel Arogbonlo – Nigerian Tribune
Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Lawal Pedro, SAN
The growing scourge of ritual killings and human trafficking, described as commercialised evil thriving on poverty and silence, has drawn a firm call for united continental action from the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Lawal Pedro, SAN and the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Kazeem Alogba.
Speaking at the inaugural Africa Colloquium Against Human Trafficking: A United Front Against Ritual Abuse and Sacrifice in Lagos, Pedro stressed that the event was not merely a conference, but a continental call to conscience aimed at reclaiming the sanctity of human life in Africa.
“Ritual abuse and human sacrifices are not myths. They are real, expanding, and destroying lives across our communities”, the Attorney-General declared.
He warned that “Silence has never protected the vulnerable, it only protects the oppressor,” and urged all stakeholders to break that silence with truth, collaboration, and action.
Pedro stressed the disturbing convergence of human trafficking and ritual crimes, citing recent, high-profile tragedies across Nigeria.
These included the abduction and murder of two seven-year-old cousins, Chizaram and Chidinma Onuche, in Port Harcourt; the ritual-related killing of a college student in Ilorin; and the arrest of two Rivers State pastors found in possession of human skulls and coffins.
He backed his warnings with statistics, noting that the National Bureau of Statistics recorded over 150 ritual killings in six months (bold letter-type added by the webmaster FVDK) many of which involved youths lured by the false promise of quick wealth.
The Attorney-General pointed out that human trafficking has evolved into a global, highly profitable enterprise.
He cited global estimates placing the profits from human trafficking at a staggering $236 billion annually, confirming its status as a high-profit, low-risk crime linked to organised criminal networks.
Pedro, who also chairs the Lagos State Task Force Against Human Trafficking, detailed the state’s proactive steps to combat the menace.
According to the AG, “Between 2022 and 2024, the state rescued and supported over 4,700 victims and reached five million residents through extensive community awareness campaigns.
“Furthermore, Lagos trained 109 local government focal persons as anti-trafficking advocates and expanded shelter facilities for survivors.”
He also pointed out the enactment of the Lagos State Organ Harvesting Prohibition Law 2024.
This legislation, he said, criminalises organ trafficking and imposes severe penalties on offenders, including medical professionals involved in the illegal human organ trade.
Stressing the need for borderless cooperation, Pedro insisted that no single nation can defeat crime alone.
“This evil will continue to thrive where nations fail to collaborate. Africa must rise, not in rhetoric but in responsibility,” he posited.
Pedro commended international partners, Pepperdine University and the Sudreau Global Justice Institute, for their collaboration on justice reforms, which has now grown into a continental mission.
Reinforcing the call to action, the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Kazeem Alogba, described human trafficking and ritual abuse as a global pandemic deeply rooted in the history of slavery.
He lamented that centuries after slavery’s formal abolition, its modern offshoots, human trafficking, ritual killings, and organ trade, continue to thrive under new guises, primarily for economic gain.
“Human trafficking is a business because financial considerations are involved,” Justice Alogba stated, adding that “Ritual abuse and sacrifice are grim offshoots of slavery, initially driven by economic motives.”
The Chief Judge insisted that an effective solution must address the deep-seated social and cultural beliefs that still attempt to rationalise the exploitation of human beings.
He called for a proper investigation of cultural ethos, stressing that “The use of human beings for rituals or any form of abuse, no matter how it is rationalised, is evil. The fight must start from our communities.”
Justice Alogba urged local communities to serve as the first line of defence by enhancing vigilance and reporting suspicious activities.
“If the community does not perceive human trafficking and ritual abuse as wrong, perpetrators will continue to go unpunished.
Every citizen must be their neighbour’s keeper,” he asserted.
The CJ also called for improved training and motivation for law enforcement and investigative officers, who he termed the foot soldiers in the anti-trafficking campaign, noting that traffickers’ operations are now well-organised and heavily funded.
Pledging the judiciary’s commitment, the Chief Judge assured that the Lagos judiciary would ensure that anyone found guilty of trafficking or ritual abuse faces stringent punishment in accordance with the law.
Lagos Calls for United African Action Against Ritual Killings
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has called for a united continental effort to combat ritual abuse and human sacrifice, emphasizing that the fight cannot be won in isolation but must be pursued collectively across borders, institutions, and communities. Speaking at the opening of the First …
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has called for a united continental effort to combat ritual abuse and human sacrifice, emphasizing that the fight cannot be won in isolation but must be pursued collectively across borders, institutions, and communities.
Speaking at the opening of the First Annual Africa Colloquium Against Human Trafficking in Lagos, Governor Sanwo-Olu stressed that collaboration is essential, noting that “this evil knows no boundaries.”
The Lagos state government through the Ministry of Justice organized the two-day programme in partnership with U.S.-based Pepperdine University, with the theme, “A United Front Against Ritual Abuse and Sacrifice.”
Described as one of the most heinous crimes against humanity, the governor says, “Human trafficking is not an abstract problem. It is real, and it is close to home. It affects millions across Africa especially women and children through forced labour, sexual exploitation, domestic servitude, and the deeply troubling cases of ritual abuse and sacrifice. Behind every statistic is a face, a name, and a story of pain that must never be ignored.”
(….. illegible….) we are strengthening prosecution systems, rehabilitating survivors, and raising public awareness. But the government alone cannot win this fight. It demands a united front, a coalition of justice ministries, law enforcement, traditional and religious leaders, community-based organizations, and the private sector.” The event also serves as a united move to dispel the dangerous myths that wrongly link power, success, or protection to the taking of human life, which fuel ritual abuse. On his part, the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), represented by Ezinne Nwaokoro, says the fight against human trafficking is now a national priority, which is why this colloquium matters. ”If traffickers can collaborate across borders, so must we. And beyond just legal tools, we need strong communities, survivor voices, regional partnerships, and a justice system that protects — not traumatises — those who come forward.” The Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Kazeem Alogba, commended the legislature for enacting stiff penalties against offenders and pledged that the judiciary would enforce the law with strictness. “The Lagos judiciary will ensure that anyone found guilty of trafficking or ritual abuse faces stringent punishment in accordance with the law,” he assured.
He also urged local communities to take the lead in identifying and reporting suspicious activities. “If the community does not perceive human trafficking and ritual abuse as wrong, perpetrators will continue to go unpunished. Every citizen must be their neighbour’s keeper,” he added. The Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro, SAN, who also chairs the Lagos State Task Force Against Human Trafficking, outlined the state’s multi-pronged response to the menace. Between 2022 and 2024, he said, over 4,700 victims were rescued and supported, while five million residents were reached through community awareness campaigns. Lagos also trained 109 local government focal persons as anti-trafficking advocates and expanded shelters for survivors.
He further highlighted the enactment of the Lagos State Organ Harvesting Prohibition Law 2024, which criminalises organ trafficking and imposes severe penalties on offenders, including medical professionals involved in illegal human organ trade. “Let history say that from Lagos in 2025, Africa took a stand and never turned back,” he said. “Let us refuse to accept the killing of our children as normal, reject the exploitation of women, and silence that empowers crime. When Africa chooses unity over isolation, we can protect the vulnerable and safeguard human dignity.” The Director of the Sudreau Global Justice Institute, Pepperdine University, USA, Prof. Cameron Collum, called for a united African response to end ritual abuse and human sacrifice, describing the practices as “pure evil” that must be confronted through collective action, policy reform, and justice system strengthening across the continent. “While human trafficking is widely acknowledged and addressed globally, ritual abuse and human sacrifice remain largely unspoken issues. Everywhere I go, leaders acknowledge ritual killings as a real problem, yet few programs tackle it. This conference aims to change that by starting a Pan-African conversation to end these atrocities,” he declared.
The Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Binta Bello, also warned that the growing nexus between ritual abuse, human sacrifice, and human trafficking poses a grave threat to Africa’s moral fabric and security.
(… illegible….) over 150 ritual killings were recorded in the first half of 2025 alone (bold letter-type added by the webmaster FVDK), with women and youths as major victims. The National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), also documented over 168 ritual-related deaths in 2022 and nearly 100 in 2024. According to her, the Lagos colloquium marks a historic moment for Africa’s anti-trafficking movement. “For too long, global discussions on trafficking have focused narrowly on sexual and labour exploitation,” she said. “Today, we are expanding that conversation to include ritual abuse and sacrifice — equally grave violations of human rights and dignity.” The programme brought together about 200 delegates made up of lawyers, policymakers, judges, prosecutors, NGOs, and community leaders, from across the country and 15 African countries, Including Kenya, Uganda, Cameroun, and Tanzania. The conveners say the Colloquium would become an annual event to track progress, strengthen partnerships, and sustain reforms across the continent.
‘We, the people of Mafi, are not murderers. We are a people of peace, dignity, and hard work. It is through farming, fishing, craftsmanship, and honest toil that we sustain ourselves and contribute to Ghana. Wealth does not come from bloodshed or ritual killings. Wealth comes from sweat, perseverance, and the blessings of our deities, who safeguard and protect us when we live uprightly.’
These are the words of the Awafiaga of the Mafi Traditional Area, Togbe Awudza Adabla XV, at a press conference at Mafi Avakpedome in the Central Tongu District of the Volta Region, banning with immediate effect, the erection of any shrine on Mafi land unless that is done with the explicit consent of the Palace of the Awafiaga of the Mafi State.
The press conference, organized by the Palace of the Awafiaga of the Mafi State, formed part of the climax of a three-day cleansing and purification rites for Togbe Avakpe and the Avakpedome community, which were desecrated on 12th December, 2024, through the secret killing and burial of one Nelson Anyana, a native of Wusuta in the North Dayi District of the Volta Region, by some misguided youth of the community.
The Awafiaga of the Mafi Traditional Area, Togbe Awudza Adabla XV, who addressed the press, noted that the shameful act, which was later uncovered by the State’s investigations, not only soiled the name of the Mafi communities but also the Divine god of the people known as Togbe Avakpe. According to Awafiaga, the incident cast a dark shadow over the entire Avakpedome community, adding that such acts are an abomination, criminal, and inhumane and stand against the very values that define them as a people.
‘By these rites, we say, Never Again should any individual or group of persons bring such disgrace to our land, to our deity, and to our people. I warn with the authority of this stool, that anyone who dares repeat such an act, will know no peace in this life,’ the Awafiaga emphasized.
Togbe Awudza Adabla XV, who is also the Head Chief of the Gborta Clan of Mafi and Dufia of Mafi Avakpedome, called on Ghanaians and all people of goodwill to disabuse their minds of the recent tragedy and to once again engage with the chiefs and people of Mafi on issues of farming or agriculture, business, tourism, and the general development of the Mafi State. ‘Our communities are fertile, vibrant, and productive. We till the land, rear animals, and feed not only ourselves but also the nation at large. These are the values of Mafi, especially Mafi Avakpedome. Let us together restore the good name of Mafi Avakpedome, the Awafiaga intimated.
The Dufia and Awafia of Mafi Kumikpo, Togbe Agbozo Daku III, described the murder of the young man on Mafi land as a sacrilegious act committed by such misguided youth of the area. He pledged his support to the Awafiaga’s palace in ensuring that such miscreants are not only exposed to the police and other security agencies but also dealt with according to the laws of the country.
Togbe Ngorgbea XIII of Mafi Vodza, who led the purification rites for the three days, chaired the function. He advised the youth of the area to be wary of the negative infiltration of foreign cultural values into their communities. According to him, with the performance of the purification and cleansing rites, the power of Togbe Avakpe remains unshaken and his protection unbroken, adding that the deity would expose any youth engaged in any barbaric act against the land.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Stool Father of the Awafiaga, Zikpuitor Martin K. Gozah, lauded the chiefs and citizens of the area for their participation, support, and encouragement in carrying out the rites.
There was a heavy downpour as soon as the rites cum presser were over, a development the elders described as a positive sign and an indication that the rites had been successful and accepted by Togbe Avakpe, who is now cleansed and purified.
For centuries, Togbe Avakpe has been the protector and guide of the chiefs and people of Mafi Avakpedome. From the ancient land of Nortsie to their present home, the Togbe Avakpe deity led them with power and valor. He showed his strength in war, migration, and in justice. His very name echoes in their prayers and appellations: Tonguawo fe Avaworkpe, Eweawo fe Nortsu, Ebluawo fe Nortsu. Togbe Avakpe is called Okuhene, Odi Enam, a Yenua. He is a god of truth, of power, and of justice who slays kings, preserves nations, and stands as the shield of both Ewes and Akans.
History also has it that it was under the guidance of Togbe Avakpe that Avakpedome became the judicial and administrative heart of Mafi. In His sacred cave, the ancestors adjudicated disputes, preserved peace, and ensured justice. The presence of Avakpe was the anchor of law, order, and unity.
The event was graced by some elders of the community, including the Stool Secretary for the Awafiaga, Mr. Nelson Agorsor. There was a pouring of libation prayers earlier by the Fiator of the Awafiaga, Mr. Edwin Kpeli.
Mafi Avakpedome is located in the Central Tongu District of the Volta Region, in eastern Ghana.
In December 2024, Nelson Anyana, a 28-year old man, was murdered in what was suspected a ritual killing. The victim was secretly buried by some youth of the community. Six were arrested, suspected of being involved in the criminal act.
On September 2025, cleansing and purification rites began, climaxing on October 2. The rites had become necessary to restore the sanctity of Togbe Avakpe, the revered sanctity of the community, and were led by Togbe Ngorgbea XIII of Mafi Vodka.
Togbe Awudza Adabla XV, the Avafiaba of the Mafi Traditional Area and Dufia of Mafi-Avakpedome emphasized during the ceremony that prosperity can only come through farming, fishing, craftsmanship, and perseverance – not bloodshed or ritual killings. (italics by webmaster FVDK)
Togbe Agbozo Daku III, the Dufia of Mafi Kumikpo, condemned the growing interest of some youth in ritual practices.
Zikpitor Martin Gezag, the Stool Father, appealed to community leaders to sensitize the youth on the dangers of ritual killings.
Unfortunately, ritual murder is a regularly recurring crime in the Volta Region.
Ghana’s Volta Region is one of the country’s sixteen administrative regions. Its capital is the city of Ho. It is located between Lake Volta in the west and the Republic of Togo in the east (see map below). (FVDK)
Purification rites performed to restore sanctity of revered deity in Mafi-Avakpedome
Belief in witchcraft is prevalent in all walks of life – but that doesn’t mean that everyone believes in witchcraft.
An old law has been dusted off, the Witchcraft Act of 1914, to prosecute the accused. (webmaster FVDK)
Men jailed for witchcraft murder plot against Zambia’s president Hakainde Hichilema
Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema says he does not believe in witchcraft
Published: September 15, 2025 By: Kennedy Gondwe, Lusaka – BBC
A court in Zambia has sentenced two men to two years in prison for attempting to use witchcraft to kill President Hakainde Hichilema.
Zambian Leonard Phiri and Mozambican Jasten Mabulesse Candunde were convicted under the Witchcraft Act after being arrested in December with charms in their possession, including a live chameleon.
“It is my considered view that the convicts were not only the enemy of the head of state but were also enemies of all Zambians,” magistrate Fine Mayambu said in his ruling.
The case has been closely followed in Zambia, as this was the first time anyone was put on trial for attempting to use witchcraft against a president.
The prosecution alleged that Phiri and Candunde were hired by a fugitive former MP to bewitch Hichilema.
Despite their insistence that they were bona fide traditional healers, the court found them guilty on two counts under the Witchcraft Act.
“The two accepted ownership of the charms. Phiri further demonstrated that the chameleon’s tail, once pricked and used in the ritual, would cause death to occur within five days,” Magistrate Mayambu said.
The lawyer for the two men, Agrippa Malando, said his clients pleaded for leniency as they were first-time offenders.
He urged the court to fine them, but the request was rejected.
Magistrate Mayambu noted that many people in Zambia, like in other African countries, believed in witchcraft, even though it was not scientifically proven.
The law was designed to protect society from fear and harm caused by those claiming to have the power to carry out acts of witchcraft, he said.
“The question is not whether the accused are wizards or actually possess supernatural powers. It is whether they represented themselves as such, and the evidence clearly shows they did,” Magistrate Mayambu said.
In addition to the two-year sentence they were given for “professing” witchcraft, the men were sentenced to six months in prison for possessing charms.
As the sentences will run concurrently, they will serve only two years in prison, effective from the date of their arrest in December 2024.
Hichilema has previously said he does not believe in witchcraft. He has not commented on the case.
Lawyer Dickson Jere told the BBC that the Witchcraft Act was passed during colonial rule in 1914.
He said people were “very rarely” prosecuted for practising witchcraft, but it helped protect elderly women who faced mob justice in villages after being accused of bewitching someone and causing their death.
Witchcraft has also featured prominently in conversations over the protracted dispute between the government and the family of the late President Edgar Lungu over his funeral.
Some people believe that the government’s insistence that he should be buried in Zambia, contrary to his family’s wishes, may be for “occult reasons”.
The government has denied the accusation.
Lungu died in South Africa in June, and his body is still in a morgue there because of the failure to reach agreement over his burial.
A Zambian court has sentenced two men to two years in prison for attempting to use witchcraft to kill the president. Hakainde Hichilema. The Zambian Leonard Phiri and Mozambican Jasten Mabulesse Candunde They were convicted under the Witchcraft Act after being arrested in December while in possession of amulets, including a live chameleon.
“I firmly believe that the convicts were not only enemies of the head of state, but also enemies of all Zambians,” the magistrate said. End of Mayambu in his ruling. The case was closely followed in Zambia, as it was the first time anyone was tried for attempting to use witchcraft against a president. The prosecution alleged that Phiri and Candunde were hired by a fugitive former parliamentarian to bewitch Hichilema.
Despite their insistence that they were authentic traditional healers, the court found Phiri and Candunde guilty of two counts under the Witchcraft Act. “The two accepted ownership of the amulets. Phiri also demonstrated that the chameleon’s tail, once stung and used in the ritual, would cause death within five days,” Magistrate Mayambu said in reading the sentence.
The lawyer of the two men, Agrippa Malando, He said his clients requested leniency since it was their first offense and asked the court to fine them, but the request was denied. Magistrate Mayambu noted that many people in Zambia, as in other African countries, believe in witchcraft, even if it is not scientifically proven. The law was designed to protect society from the fear and harm caused by those who claim to have the power to perform acts of witchcraft, he said. “The question is not whether the defendants are magicians or actually possess supernatural powers. The question is whether they presented themselves as such, and the evidence clearly shows that they do,” the magistrate stated. In addition to the two-year sentence for “professing” witchcraft, the men were sentenced to six months in prison for possession of talismans. Because the sentences will run concurrently, the two will only serve two years in prison, starting from the date of their arrest in December 2024.
Witchcraft has also been at the centre of discussions surrounding the long-running dispute between the government and the family of the late president. Edgar Lungu regarding his funeral. Some believe the government’s insistence that he be buried in Zambia, contrary to his family’s wishes, may have been motivated by “hidden motives.” The government, however, has denied these accusations. Lungu died in South Africa in June, and his body remains in a morgue there because no agreement on his burial has been reached.
Two Convicted In Alleged Witchcraft Plot To Kill President Hichilema
A court in Zambia has sentenced two men to two years in prison for attempting to use witchcraft to kill President Hakainde Hichilema. The men, Leonard Phiri from Zambia and Jasten Mabulesse Candunde from Mozambique, were convicted under the Witchcraft Act after being found with charms, including a live chameleon.
Court ruling
Magistrate Fine Mayambu delivered a strong ruling in Lusaka, saying the pair posed a threat not only to the president but also to the nation.
He declared:
“It is my considered view that the convicts were not only the enemy of the head of state but were also enemies of all Zambians.”
The men were sentenced to two years with hard labour, though their sentences will run concurrently, meaning they will serve two years effective from their arrest in December 2024.
Phiri, identified as a village chief, and Candunde claimed to be traditional healers. However, evidence presented in court showed they accepted ownership of the charms.
Magistrate Mayambu noted:
“Phiri further demonstrated that the chameleon’s tail, once pricked and used in the ritual, would cause death to occur within five days.”
Prosecution’s case
The prosecution argued the two men had been hired to target President Hichilema. According to reports from The Guardian on 15 September 2025, authorities said they were discovered after a cleaner reported “strange noises”. They were later found in possession of a live chameleon, red cloth, white powder, and an animal’s tail.
Prosecutors alleged that the hiring was linked to Emmanuel “Jay Jay” Banda, an opposition MP facing trial for robbery, attempted murder, and escaping custody. His brother was named as the one who hired Phiri and Candunde.
Despite their lawyer, Agrippa Malando, pleading for leniency and suggesting a fine, the court rejected the request. Magistrate Mayambu said the law existed to protect society from fear and harm caused by people claiming to have supernatural powers.
He explained:
“The question is not whether the accused are wizards or actually possess supernatural powers. It is whether they represented themselves as such, and the evidence clearly shows they did.”
Wider context
The case has attracted significant attention as it is the first recorded trial in Zambia for attempting to use witchcraft against a sitting president.
President Hichilema, who has publicly stated that he does not believe in witchcraft, has not commented on the matter. In August 2025, he told journalist Martine Dennis on the Africa Here & Now podcast:
“Personally I don’t believe in witchcraft, never believed in witchcraft, as a person, as a family, as a Christian.”
The Witchcraft Act, introduced in 1914 during British colonial rule, rarely leads to prosecutions. Lawyer Dickson Jere told the BBC on 15 September 2025 that the law has historically been used to protect vulnerable people, particularly elderly women accused of bewitching others.
The ruling comes at a time of political tension in Zambia, with accusations of witchcraft also surfacing in disputes over the burial of former president Edgar Lungu, who died in South Africa in June 2025.
A court in Zambia has sentenced two men to two years in prison for attempting to use witchcraft to kill President Hakainde Hichilema.
According to the BBC, Zambian national Leonard Phiri and Mozambican Jasten Mabulesse Candunde were convicted under the Witchcraft Act after being arrested in December with charms, including a live chameleon.
“It is my considered view that the convicts were not only the enemy of the head of state but were also enemies of all Zambians,” magistrate Fine Mayambu said in his ruling.
The case has attracted wide attention as it is the first time anyone has been tried for attempting to use witchcraft against a president in Zambia. Prosecutors said Phiri and Candunde were hired by a fugitive former MP to bewitch Hichilema.
The men claimed they were traditional healers, but the court found them guilty on two counts under the Witchcraft Act.
“The two accepted ownership of the charms. Phiri further demonstrated that the chameleon’s tail, once pricked and used in the ritual, would cause death to occur within five days,” Magistrate Mayambu said.
Their lawyer, Agrippa Malando, said they pleaded for leniency as first-time offenders and asked the court to impose a fine, but this was rejected.
Magistrate Mayambu said many people in Zambia, like in other African countries, believed in witchcraft even though it was not scientifically proven.
He added that the law was meant to protect society from fear and harm caused by those claiming to use witchcraft.
“The question is not whether the accused are wizards or actually possess supernatural powers. It is whether they represented themselves as such, and the evidence clearly shows they did,” Magistrate Mayambu said.
Alongside the two-year sentence for “professing” witchcraft, the men were given six months for possessing charms. The sentences will run concurrently, meaning they will serve two years from their arrest date in December 2024.
Hichilema has previously said he does not believe in witchcraft and has not commented on the case.
Lawyer Dickson Jere told the BBC that the Witchcraft Act was introduced in 1914 during colonial rule. He said people are “very rarely” prosecuted for practising witchcraft, but the law helps protect elderly women who might otherwise face mob attacks in villages after being accused of causing someone’s death through witchcraft.
Witchcraft has also been mentioned in the ongoing dispute between the government and the family of late President Edgar Lungu over his burial. Some believe the government’s insistence that he be buried in Zambia, against his family’s wishes, may be for “occult reasons”. The government has denied this.
Lungu died in South Africa in June, and his body remains in a morgue there as no agreement has been reached on his burial.
Zambia jails two men for attempting to use witchcraft on president
Published: September 15, 2025 By: Vanguard, Nigeria
A Zambian court has sentenced Leonard Phiri and Mozambican Jasten Mabulesse Candunde to two years in prison for trying to use witchcraft to kill President Hakainde Hichilema.
They were arrested in December with charms, including a live chameleon.
“It is my considered view that the convicts were not only the enemy of the head of state but were also enemies of all Zambians,” Magistrate Fine Mayambu said.
The men were allegedly hired by a fugitive former MP. Despite claiming to be traditional healers, they were found guilty on two counts under the Witchcraft Act.
“The two accepted ownership of the charms. Phiri further demonstrated that the chameleon’s tail, once pricked and used in the ritual, would cause death to occur within five days,” the magistrate added.
Lawyer Agrippa Malando said his clients pleaded for leniency as first-time offenders, but the court rejected the request.
The men also received six months for possessing charms, but the sentences run concurrently.
President Hichilema, who does not believe in witchcraft, has not commented. The Witchcraft Act, passed in 1914, is rarely used but aims to protect society from fear and harm.
Ritual murder – locally known as ‘muti murder’ – is not uncommon in Zimbabwe although it remains an exceptional crime that we must reject, combat and punish. The last time I posted on murder for ritualistic purposes in this Southern African country was on July 6 this year.
I take here a brief, superficial look at a number of reported and suspected or cases of ritual murder in Zimbabwe which have been reported in the current year, 2025, and in 2024 – with the important disclaimer that I do not claim to present an exhaustive list of reported muti murder cases, and underlining that many ritual murders go unnoticed.
In this post I do not include the original article(s), which is my usual procedure (for fear of losing the source in cyberspace). This time I take the risk… I apologize in advance for any inconvenience this may cause to the reader.
Before presenting you aforementioned list, I wish to share with you a succinct but very correct description of ‘ritual murder; thanking Lovemore Muzira of Pendula News, Zimbabwe for the quote:
‘Ritual killings are premeditated murders carried out on the belief that human body parts hold supernatural powers.’ Unquote.
Journalist Lovemore Muzira is a regular contributor to Pindula News with a background in Political Science and International Relations and has written most of the articles referred to below. He is to be commended for drawing our attention to this plague – murdering for ritualistic purposes, which are a serous human rights violation and cause fear and sadness.
The reader is reminded of the Makore ritual murder case: 7-year old Tapiwa Makore was murdered by his uncle and an accomplice for ritualistic purposes. His cruel death in 2020 shocked the nation and the high-profile muti murder of the young boy was leading headlines in newspapers for many years, 2020-2025. I also covered the tragic murder case and following trial on this site. Unfortunately, ritual murderers learn little from the punishment imposed on the murderers: ultimately they were sentenced to life imprisonment.
Warning: some of the following articles contain graphic details which may disturb the reader.
On a recent suspected case of ritual murder, in Norton, Zimbabwe, Lovemore Muzira reported:
Decomposing Body Of Missing Chitungwiza Teacher Found In Gutu Published: October 8, 2024 By: Lovemore Muzira – Pendula News, Zimbabwe Parts of the decomposing body of Stella Mushangidze Chidzenga, a Chitungwiza teacher were recently found in Gutu, Masvingo Province.
The victim is a 25-year-old mason, Nelson Anyena, who has been killed in what investigators describe as a ritual murder in Mafi Adidome, Central Tongu District. During an exhumation exercise at a fetish priest’s shrine on July 7, 2025, investigators reportedly discovered two additional unidentified bodies buried at the same location. However, according to other (non-confirmed) reports, police discovered three additional skeletons buried under other idols, as well as scattered body parts in nearby bushes.
In all, six suspects including the fetish priest were arrested.
The horrifying murder case has been widely covered in the media.
Ghana’s Volta Region is one of the country’s sixteen administrative regions. Its capital is the city of Ho. It is located between Lake Volta in the west and the Republic of Togo in the east. (FVDK)
Warning: The following articles contain graphic details which may upset readers (FVDK)
Lady lures man with romantic encounter only to kill him for rituals
Published: July 14, 2025 By: Armani Brooklyn – GhPage, Ghana
The Volta Regional Police Command has arrested six individuals linked to the murder of 25-year-old mason, Nelson Anyena, in what police describe as a suspected ritual killing.
The incident occurred in December 2024 after Anyena, who had moved from Wusuta to Mafi-Adidome to join his wife, was lured into a trap by Augustina Fiawoyife under the pretence of a romantic meeting.
He was later strangled by two men identified as Wisdom Hedidor and Courage Bedzo.
His body was allegedly sold to a fetish priest for GH¢7,000.
The suspects arrested include:
Augustina Fiawoyife
Wisdom Hedidor
Courage Bedzo
Noah Gblor (fetish priest)
Yohannes Gblor (security guard)
John Gblor (lotto writer)
The breakthrough came following police investigations, leading to the exhumation of Anyena’s body at Noah Gblor’s shrine on July 7, 2025. Two other unidentified bodies were also found at the site.
All six suspects are currently in police custody and have been remanded. They are expected to reappear in court on August 8, 2025.
Police have transported the recovered bodies to the Police Hospital Mortuary in Accra for autopsy and DNA analysis. Authorities say more arrests may follow as the investigation deepens.
The Volta Regional Police Command has assured the public, especially the bereaved family and residents of Adidome, that justice will be served.
Man lured by woman, 21, for romantic encounter and killed for ritual
Published: July 13, 2025 By: Peace FM Online – Ghana
The Volta Regional Police Command has arrested six individuals in connection with the gruesome murder of Nelson Anyena, a 25-year-old mason. The arrests took place in Blorkorfe and Awakpedome, both suburbs of Adidome in the Central Tongu District of the Volta Region.
Police investigations revealed that the victim, who had moved from Wusuta to Mafi-Adidome in December 2024 to join his wife, was lured into a deadly trap involving a female accomplice and a fetish priest.
According to a police statement, the suspects include Augustina Fiawoyife, believed to have enticed the victim under the guise of a romantic encounter, as well as Wisdom Hedidor and Courage Bedzo, who allegedly carried out the killing.
The police have also identified the spiritual leader involved as Noah Gblor, a fetish priest, along with Yohannes Gblor, a security guard, and John Gblor, a lotto writer.
Preliminary findings indicate that on 4 December 2024, Fiawoyife lured Anyena to a remote location through a phone call. Once there, Hedidor and Bedzo reportedly strangled him and handed his body over to the fetish priest in exchange for GH¢7,000.
The crime came to light following detailed police investigations and the subsequent arrest of the suspects.
During an exhumation exercise at Noah Gblor’s shrine on 7 July 2025, investigators discovered two additional unidentified bodies buried at the same location.
Police confirmed the recovery of the bodies, which have been transported to the Police Hospital Mortuary in Accra for autopsy and DNA analysis.
All six suspects are currently in police custody and have been remanded. They are scheduled to reappear in court on 8 August 2025 as investigations continue. Authorities say further arrests are possible as they work to uncover the full extent of the criminal network behind the murder.
The Volta Regional Police Command praised the cooperation of the local community and appealed for calm among residents and the family of the deceased. The police assured the public that justice would be pursued rigorously in this alarming case.
The Volta Regional Police Command has arrested six individuals in connection with a suspected ritual killing of a 25-year-old mason, Nelson Anyena, at Mafi Adidome in the Central Tongu District of the Volta region.
According to a statement signed by Chief Inspector Francis Kwaku Gomado, Head of the Public Affairs Unit of the Volta Regional Police Command, the deceased had relocated from his hometown, Wusuta in the South Dayi District, to live with his wife at Mafi Adidome in December 2024.
Following weeks of covert investigations and collaboration with local residents, the police apprehended the first three suspects on 26th June 2025.
They include 21-year-old Augustina Fiawoyife, an unemployed woman; 31-year-old herbalist Wisdom Hedidor; and Courage Bedzo, also known as Dzidefo, a 31-year-old Kente weaver.
Further investigations led to the arrest of three additional suspects: Gblor Noah, also known as Ekpedzi, a 42-year-old fetish priest; his brother Yohannes Gblor, aged 27 and employed as a security guard; and John Gblor, aged 40, a lotto writer.
The three were arrested at Mafi Awakpedome.
Preliminary findings indicate that on 4th December 2024, Augustina, acting on instructions from her boyfriend, Wisdom Hedidor, lured Nelson Anyena to a secluded location under the pretext of a romantic meeting.
There, Hedidor and Courage Bedzo allegedly ambushed and strangled him (the deceased).
Investigators believe the suspects carried out the killing on behalf of fetish priest Gblor Noah, who had earlier approached them requesting a human body for ritual purposes in exchange for a fee.
After the act, Noah and his brothers allegedly paid GH¢7,000 to the two attackers and transported the body to a shrine at Blorkope.
On 3rd July 2025, police secured an exhumation order from the Ho Magistrate Court and, on 7 July, retrieved the victim’s body from beneath Noah Gblor’s shrine.
The exercise, led by Volta Regional Crime Officer Superintendent Mr Omari Mic Boakye and supported by Environmental Health Officers from the Ho Municipality, also uncovered two additional unidentified bodies buried at the site.
The remains have been transferred to the Police Hospital Mortuary in Accra for preservation, autopsy, and DNA profiling.
All six suspects are currently in police and prison custody and are expected to appear in court on 8th August 2025.
The Volta Regional Police Command has expressed appreciation for the public’s cooperation and has called on the family and community members to remain calm as investigations proceed.
Ritual murder: Six arrested over death of 25-year-old mason
Published: July 10, 2025 By: Caroaryee – MyNewsGh.com
A 25-year-old mason, Nelson Anyena, has been killed in what investigators describe as a ritual murder in Mafi Adidome, Central Tongu District.
His body was found buried beneath a shrine after weeks of investigation.
Nelson, who had recently moved from Wusuta to live with his wife in Mafi Adidome, was reportedly lured by a young woman, Augustina Fiawoyife, under the pretext of a private meeting.
According to police findings, she acted on instructions from her boyfriend, Wisdom Hedidor, a herbalist.
Together with Courage Bedzo, a kente weaver, they allegedly ambushed Nelson and strangled him to death.
Investigations revealed that the act was carried out for a fetish priest, Gblor Noah, who had promised payment in return for a human body to use for rituals.
After the killing, the priest and his brothers allegedly paid GH¢7,000 and moved the body to a shrine located at Blorkope.
Three suspects—Fiawoyife, Hedidor, and Bedzo—were arrested on June 26, 2025.
This led to further arrests: 42-year-old fetish priest Noah Gblor, his 27-year-old brother Yohannes Gblor, and 40-year-old John Gblor, a lotto writer.
On July 3, the police secured a court order to exhume the body.
During the operation on July 4, not only was Nelson’s body recovered, but two additional unidentified bodies were also discovered buried at the same location.
All the remains have been transferred to the Police Hospital in Accra for autopsy and DNA analysis.
The suspects remain in custody and are expected to reappear in court on August 8, 2025. The police have called for public calm as investigations continue.
The Central Tongu MP, Alexander Roosevelt Hotordze, and Dodzi Addison Mornyuie, the District Chief Executive, have condemned the discovery of human remains at a shrine in Mafi Gblorkope.
They described the incident as a “barbaric and inhumane act” that has shaken the conscience of the entire enclave.
They made the remarks during a visit to the crime scene on Tuesday, July 8, following a police-led operation that triggered the exhumation of multiple human remains, including the skeletal body of a 28-year-old Nelson Anyana believed to have been murdered for ritual purposes.
Mr Hotordze disclosed to the Ghana News Agency that such acts had no place in the society, and assured the people of Central Tongu that his office in collaboration with the district assembly would not rest until every person involved in the heinous crime was identified, apprehended, and made to face the full rigours of the law.
“This is a horrifying and deeply troubling development,” he added.
He emphasised that justice must be delivered swiftly, not only to honour the memory of the victims but also to restore a sense of security among residents.
“I have tasked the security services to deepen their investigations and act decisively. This is not just about one life lost; it is about safeguarding the moral fabric and peace of our community,” he said.
The MP urged residents to remain calm and cooperate with security personnel, noting that the ongoing investigations were being treated with the utmost seriousness.
Mr. Addison Dodzi Mornyuie also condemned the incident, describing it as “a stain on the conscience of the district” and a clear affront to human dignity and the rule of law.
He called on traditional leaders and local residents to remain vigilant and proactive in reporting suspicious activities, stressing that such heinous acts often thrived in silence and secrecy.
“We must build a community where no one is afraid to speak up and where evil is not allowed to hide under cultural or religious cover,” the DCE stated.
Mr. Mornyuie further assured the public of the Assembly’s full collaboration with the security agencies to bring all perpetrators to justice.
He reiterated that no one would be spared, regardless of social status or influence, and that the Assembly would intensify its community engagement and sensitisation efforts to prevent a recurrence.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Police Service and the National Intelligence Bureau had confirmed to the GNA that three other suspects were in custody.
They said forensic investigations were underway to identify the additional remains and determine the full scale of the crimes committed.
Authorities have encouraged members of the public to volunteer any relevant information that may assist in the ongoing probe.
The suspects. INSET: One of the suspects with human bones
Published: July 10, 2025 By: Daniel K. Orlando, Ho – Daily Guide Network
A suspected ritual killing syndicate has been busted by the Ghana Police Service following the discovery of several human remains at a shrine in Gblorkope, Central Tongu District in the Volta Region.
The breakthrough came after months of investigations triggered by a missing person’s report filed on December 17, 2024, by Madam Comfort Hatse, a trader from Donkorkrom in the Eastern Region.
She reported that her son, Nelson Anyana, 28, had left home on December 4, 2024, to meet one Augustina Fiawoyife at Mafi-Adidome and never returned.
Detectives later uncovered a gruesome conspiracy involving Fiawoyife, who was romantically involved with a herbalist, Wisdom Hedidor. The police say Hedidor, consumed by jealousy over Fiawoyife’s continued contact with Nelson, allegedly plotted to murder him for ritual purposes.
Investigations revealed that a local fetish priest, Gblor Noah, popularly known as Ekpedzi, had earlier requested a human body for ritual rites, promising a GH¢7,000 payment. Courage Bedzo, a kente weaver, reportedly relayed this request to Hedidor, who agreed to carry out the act.
On December 12, 2024, Fiawoyife allegedly lured Nelson to a secluded location near the DC Bungalow area in Adidome. While engaging him in conversation, Hedidor and Bedzo emerged and strangled him to death. Fiawoyife reportedly watched the killing without raising any alarm.
The body was subsequently sold to the fetish priest, who was accompanied by his brother, Gblor Yohannes, a lotto writer. The remains were transported to the Gblorkope shrine and buried beneath an idol after performing rituals.
Upon arrest and interrogation, the suspects led investigators to the shrine where Nelson’s remains were exhumed. Police also discovered three additional skeletons buried under other idols, as well as scattered body parts in nearby bushes, raising suspicions of serial killings.
Six suspects have since been arrested. They include Augustina Fiawoyife, unemployed, Wisdom Hedidor, herbalist, Courage Bedzo, kente weaver, Gblor Noah alias Ekpedzi, fetish priest, Gblor John, security guard, and Gblor Yohannes, lotto writer.
All six are residents of Mafi-Adidome and reportedly related to the operators of the shrine.
The suspects were arraigned before the Ho District Court 1 on July 2, 2025, presided over by His Worship Albert Annor Owusu. Prosecutor, Detective Sergeant Kwadwo Otibu-Gyan, informed the court that investigations are still underway, particularly efforts to identify and exhume all remains linked to the case.
The court did not take the suspects’ pleas and remanded them into prison custody to reappear on August 6, 2025.
The disturbing revelations have sent shockwaves through the Volta Region, with residents demanding swift justice and a clampdown on ritual activities in the area.
The Ghana Police Service has assured the public of its resolve to fully pursue the case and bring all perpetrators to book. Authorities are also appealing to the public for information that could aid ongoing investigations.
Forensic experts are currently working to identify the additional victims, as police probe the possibility of more bodies linked to the shrine.
Six nabbed over alleged ritual murder at Mafi Adidome
Published: July 10, 2025 By: Adom Online
The Volta Regional Police Command has arrested six individuals in connection with the suspected ritual killing of a 25-year-old mason, Nelson Anyena, at Mafi Adidome in the Central Tongu District.
According to police, three suspects were initially arrested on June 26, 2025, following weeks of covert investigations and collaboration with residents.
The suspects are 21-year-old unemployed woman Augustina Fiawoyife; 31-year-old herbalist Wisdom Hedidor; and 31-year-old Kente weaver Courage Bedzo, also known as Dzidefo.
Further investigations led to the arrest of three additional suspects: – Gblor Noah, also known as Ekpedzi, a 42-year-old fetish priest – Yohannes Gblor, a 27-year-old security guard and brother of Noah – John Gblor, a 40-year-old lotto writer at Mafi Awakpedome.
A statement signed by the Head of the Public Affairs Unit of the Regional Command, Chief Inspector Francis Kwaku Gomado, revealed that the deceased relocated from Wusuta in the South Dayi District to live with his wife at Mafi Adidome in December 2024.
On December 4, 2024, Augustina, acting on instructions from her boyfriend, Wisdom Hedidor, allegedly lured Nelson Anyena to a secluded location under the pretext of a romantic meeting.
There, Hedidor and Courage Bedzo reportedly ambushed and strangled him to death—an act police investigators believe was carried out on behalf of fetish priest Gblor Noah, who had earlier requested a human body for ritual purposes in exchange for a fee.
After the killing, Noah and his brothers allegedly paid GH¢7,000 to the attackers and transported Nelson’s body to a shrine at Blorkope.
On July 3, 2025, police secured an order from the Ho Magistrate Court and, the following day, exhumed Nelson’s body from beneath Noah Gblor’s shrine.
The exercise, led by Volta Regional Crime Officer Superintendent Omari Mic Boakye and supported by Environmental Health Officers from the Ho Municipality, also uncovered two additional unidentified bodies buried at the site.
All the remains have been transferred to the Police Hospital Mortuary in Accra for preservation, autopsy, and DNA profiling.
The suspects are currently in police and prison custody and are expected to reappear in court on August 8, 2025.
Meanwhile, the Volta Regional Police Command has expressed appreciation for the public’s cooperation and has called on the family and community members to remain calm as investigations continue.
Six arrested over ritual killing of 23-year-old in Mafi-Adidome; body exhumed by police
Published: July 9, 2025 By: Abigail Teye – Asaseeradio Ghana
The deceased, a resident of Mafi-Adidome, was reported missing on 17 December 2024 by his mother, Madam Comfort Hates, after he left home on 4 December to meet a woman identified as Augustina Fiawoyife but never returned.
Six individuals have been arrested in connection with the brutal killing of 23-year-old Nelson Anyana at Mafi-Adidome in the Central Tongu District of the Volta Region, in what police describe as a premeditated ritual murder.
The deceased, a resident of Mafi-Adidome, was reported missing on 17 December 2024 by his mother, Comfort Hates, after he left home on 4 December to meet a woman identified as Augustina Fiawoyife but never returned.
Police investigations revealed that Fiawoyife lured Nelson to a secluded area under the pretext of a meeting. She was allegedly acting on instructions from her boyfriend, an herbalist named Wisdom Hedidor, who suspected frequent phone calls between Nelson and Fiawoyife.
Further details uncovered a chilling plot involving a fetish priest, Gblor Noah, who had approached a kente weaver, Courage Bedzo, requesting a human body for ritual purposes in exchange for a reward. Bedzo reportedly relayed the request to Hedidor, who then targeted Nelson as the victim.
On 4 December 2024, Fiawoyife led Nelson to a bushy area near the DC Bungalow at Mafi-Adidome, where Hedidor and Bedzo were hiding. As Nelson engaged in conversation with Fiawoyife, the two men emerged and strangled him.
After the killing, the group contacted Gblor Noah, who arrived at the scene with another accomplice, Gblor John, a lotto writer. The body was transported to Gblorkope in Central Tongu, where ritual rites were allegedly performed. The remaining body parts were then buried in a nearby bush.
The suspects—Fiawoyife, Hedidor, Bedzo, Gblor Noah, and Gblor John—were subsequently arrested. Police say the body was allegedly sold for GHC 7,000 for the ritual.
On 2 July 2025, the case was called at the Ho District Court 1, presided over by His Worship Albert Annor Owusu. All suspects appeared without legal representation. Prosecuting, Detective Sergeant Kwadwo Otibu-Gyan told the court investigations were ongoing, especially efforts to locate and exhume the remaining body parts.
The exhumation was carried out on 7 July 2025, with re-interment expected.
The suspects’ pleas were not taken, and they were remanded into prison custody to reappear on 6 August 2025.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the Central Tongu District, with residents calling for swift justice and stronger action against ritual-related crimes. Police investigations are ongoing.
Reporting by Solomon Mensah-Ahiable for Asaase News in the Volta Region
The Homicide Unit of the Ghana Police Service has made a major breakthrough in a suspected ritual murder case involving the disappearance of 28-year-old Nelson Anyana.
An intensive investigation led to the discovery and exhumation of multiple human remains buried within a shrine at Gblorkope, located in the Central Tongu District of the Volta Region.
This operation follows a report filed by Comfort Hatse, the mother of the deceased, who informed police that her son had gone missing on December 4, 2024, after leaving home to meet a woman named Augustina Fiawoyife. He was officially declared missing on December 17.
Working with three key suspects, homicide detectives from the Volta Regional Police Command searched a property believed to be used for ritualistic practices.
The team exhumed Nelson Anyana’s body, buried beneath idols at the Gblorkope shrine, confirming suspicions of ritual murder.
The police further uncovered three additional human skeletal remains buried under separate idols at the same location.
Additional human body parts, believed to belong to other victims, were also discovered buried in surrounding bushes, raising fears that the site may have been a hub for serial ritual killings.
Six individuals have since been arrested and arraigned in connection with the murder.
The suspects include:
Augustina Fiawoyife, unemployed
Wisdom Hedidor, herbalist
Courage Bedzo, kente weaver
Gblor Noah, alias Ekpedzi, 37, fetish priest
Gblor John, 38, security guard
Gblor Johannes, 27, lotto writer
The last three, all brothers, are believed to operate the Gblorkope shrine.
According to the police, the murder was orchestrated by Wisdom Hedidor, who had reportedly grown jealous of the deceased’s relationship with Augustina, his romantic partner.
Investigations reveal that around the same period, fetish priest Gblor Noah allegedly requested a human body for ritual purposes in exchange for payment.
Courage Bedzo is said to have relayed the request to Hedidor, who agreed to carry out the killing.
On December 12, 2024, Augustina lured Nelson Anyana to a quiet area in Adidome, where Hedidor and Bedzo ambushed and strangled him, allegedly in the presence of Augustina.
The body was later purchased by the fetish priest and his associate, Gblor Johannes, for GH¢7,000. It was transported to the shrine at Gblorkope, used in ritual practices, and buried under one of the idols.
Following the operation, all six suspects were arraigned before the Ho District Court. They face charges of abetment of crime, to wit, murder, and conspiracy to commit crime, to wit, murder.
Police say forensic analysis is underway to identify the other human remains recovered and to determine if more suspects should be charged.
The shocking discovery has triggered public outrage and fear among residents of the Central Tongu District, with many demanding swift justice and a broader crackdown on suspected ritual networks in the region.
The Ghana Police Service has assured the public of its commitment to fully investigate the case and bring all perpetrators to justice.
Police exhume multiple human remains in Central Tongu shrine
Published: July 9, 2025 By: Adomon Online, From: GNA
The Homicide Unit of the Ghana Police Service has undertaken an operation that uncovered and exhumed multiple human remains buried in a shrine at Gblorkope in the Central Tongu District.
This follows a suspected ritual murder and the disappearance of 28-year-old Nelson Anyana.
The homicide investigation marked a breakthrough in the alleged murder of Nelson, resulting in the discovery of multiple human bones, some buried beneath idols in the shrine.
Six individuals have been arrested and arraigned in connection with the alleged murder of Nelson, who had earlier been declared missing.
The breakthrough came after police detectives from the Homicide Unit in Ho, accompanied by three key suspects, conducted a search of a property believed to have been used for ritual purposes.
The body of Nelson Anyana, who had been missing since December 2024, was exhumed from the Gblorkope shrine, confirming police suspicions of ritual murder.
During the search, police discovered three additional skeletal remains buried beneath different idols at the same location. Assorted human body parts believed to belong to other victims were also found buried in nearby bushes, intensifying suspicions that the site may have been used for serial ritual killings.
The suspects, all residents of Mafi Adidome, are Augustina Fiawoyife, unemployed; Wisdom Hedidor, an herbalist; and Courage Bedzo, a kente weaver.
The others are Gblor Noah, also known as Ekpedzi, a fetish priest aged 37; Gblor John, a 38-year-old security guard; and Gblor Johannes, a 27-year-old lotto writer. The last three, who are siblings, are reported to be operators of the Gblorkope shrine.
According to police investigations, the case began when Comfort Hatse, a trader from Donkorkrom and mother of the deceased, reported him missing on December 17, 2024.
She stated that the deceased had left home on December 4 to meet the first suspect, Augustina Fiawoyife, and never returned.
It was later discovered that Augustina was in a relationship with the second suspect, Wisdom Hedidor, who had grown jealous over her ongoing relationship with the deceased. He allegedly hatched a plan to kill him, which was executed accordingly.
Around that time, the fourth suspect, Gblor Noah, had reportedly solicited a human body for ritual purposes in exchange for a substantial payment.
The third suspect, Courage Bedzo, relayed this request to Hedidor, who agreed to carry out the murder.
On December 12, 2024, Augustina lured the deceased to a secluded area near DC Bungalow, a suburb of Adidome. While the victim engaged her in conversation, Hedidor and Bedzo ambushed and strangled him to death, with Augustina allegedly witnessing the act without intervening.
The third suspect subsequently contacted the fetish priest, who arrived at the scene with the sixth suspect, Gblor Johannes. They bought the deceased’s body for GH¢7,000 and transported it to the shrine at Gblorkope, where it was used in ritual ceremonies before being buried under idols.
Following the recovery of Nelson Anyana’s remains and those of other unidentified individuals, all six suspects were arraigned before a District Court in Ho. They have been charged with abetment of crime to wit murder and conspiracy to commit crime to wit murder.
Police investigators say further forensic analysis is underway based on the new discoveries to determine the identities of the additional victims and file appropriate charges against the suspects.
The discovery has sparked outrage and fear among residents of the Central Tongu District, with many calling for swift justice and a broader investigation into possible ritualistic networks in the region.
The Ghana Police Service has reaffirmed its commitment to pursuing the case thoroughly and ensuring all perpetrators face the full rigours of the law.
Central Tongu: HumanRemains Exhumed From Shrines in Gblorkope
Published: July 9, 2025 By: Peter Atsu ,reviewed by Samuel Gitonga, Yen – Ghana
A quiet Volta village has been rocked by a chilling case of suspected ritual killing after the discovery of human remains
Three brothers, known in the community, are accused of using human remains in shrines
The suspects include a priest, a lottery ticket retailer and a security guard, all linked to a missing young man
A worrying discovery has rocked the quiet village of Gblorkope in the Adidome North electoral area of the Central Tongu District, where police officers in the Volta Regional Police Command have exhumed human remains from shrines.
The remains are allegedly those of individuals murdered and used in ritualistic practices.
Gblorkope rocked by grief as police discover human remains in a shrine. Photo credit: UGC Source: Getty Images
The operation involved three of the six suspects leading authorities to the sites where the remains were found. According to Prosper Ayikpa, the Assembly Member for the area, the remains, including four human skulls, were recovered from two shrines.
“The remains were exhumed from two shrines. The remains were actually used as the foundation upon which deities were moulded in the shrines. In all, four human skulls were exhumed from three shrines with other human parts,” he told YEN.com.gh in an interview, painting a grim picture of the ritualistic practices involved.
Ayikpa expressed his dismay over the incident, confirming that he personally knew the three suspects, who all share the same father. “The suspects are six, but the three that the police came with are indigenes of my electoral area,” Ayikpa stated, adding that “…they are well-known people in the area. They even campaigned for me to become an Assembly Member, so I know them well,” he said.
He also disclosed the professions of the three suspects: “John Gblor is a lotto writer, his brother Yohanes Gblor works as a security guard, and Noah Gblor is the main traditional priest who runs the shrines with the help of his brothers. They all share the same father. They are brothers,” he said.
How Nelson Anyana’s body was found
According to sources close to the investigations, on December 17, 2024, Comfort Hates, a trader residing in Donkorkrom in the Eastern Region, reported to the Adidome Police that her 28-year-old son, Nelson Anyana, had gone missing after leaving home three days earlier to meet one Augustina Fiawoyife.
The Adidome Police Command launched an investigation and arrested Augustina Fiawoyife.
Information disclosed to a local radio station in the Central Tongu Constituency showed that Augustina was the girlfriend of Wisdom Hedidor, a herbalist with whom she lived in Avakpadome, a suburb of Adidome.
Hedidor reportedly became suspicious and warned his girlfriend to stop receiving calls from Nelson, who frequently contacted her. Around the same time, Gblor Noah, the priest, allegedly approached his friend Courage Bedzo, a Kente weaver also residing in Avakpadome, requesting a dead body for ritual purposes in exchange for a ransom.
Courage Bedzo then ostensibly relayed this request to Wisdom Hedidor, who agreed to the plan. Both men allegedly conspired to kill Nelson Anyana, the man who often called Augustina. Investigations allegedly showed that Hedidor convinced his girlfriend to lure Nelson to a secluded location, where he would be killed and offered to the priest for money rituals.
Augustina, Nelson meet at an isolated spot On Wednesday, 4 December 2024, at approximately 7:30 PM, Augustina reportedly instructed Nelson to meet her at an isolated spot near a bungalow.
Unaware of the purported plan, Nelson arrived and began speaking with her.
Moments later, Hedidor and Bedzo emerged from a nearby bush and allegedly strangled Nelson to death.
After the suspected murder, Courage Bedzo allegedly contacted Gblor Noah to inform him that the body was ready.
Gblor Noah, accompanied by his brother John, the lotto writer, reportedly arrived and transported Nelson’s lifeless body to their house in Gblorkope.
Parts of the body were allegedly used in rituals within the shrine, and the remaining human parts were buried in a nearby bush.
Efforts to speak with the Volta Regional Police Crime Officer on the matter have so far been unsuccessful.
The homicide unit of the Ghana Police Service has undertaken an operation, uncovered and exhumed multiple human remains buried in a shrine at Gblorkope in Central Tongu District.
This followed a suspected ritual murder and disappearance of 28-year-old Nelson Anyana.
The homicide investigation is a breakthrough in the alleged murder of Nelson resulting in the discovery of multiple human bones, some buried under idols in the shrine.
Six individuals have been arrested and arraigned in connection with the alleged murder of Nelson, after being declared missing.
The breakthrough came after Police Detectives from the Homicide Unit in Ho, in the company of three key suspects, conducted a search of a property believed to be used for ritual purposes.
The body of Nelson Anyana, who had been missing since December 2024, was exhumed from a Gblorkope shrine satisfying Police suspicion of ritual murder.
The Police, in their search, discovered three additional skeletal remains buried beneath different idols at the same location, as assorted human body parts believed to belong to other victims were found buried in nearby bushes, intensifying suspicions that the site may have been used for serial ritual killings.
The suspects, all residents of Mafi Adidome, are Augustina Fiawoyife, unemployed; Wisdom Hedidor, an herbalist; and Courage Bedzo, a kente weaver.
Others are Gblor Noah, also known as Ekpedzi, a fetish priest, 37; Gblor John, a security guard, 38; and Gblor Johannes, a lotto writer, 27 (all siblings) and operators of the Gblorkope shrine.
According to Police investigations, the case began when Comfort Hatse, a trader from Donkorkrom and mother of the deceased, reported her missing on December 17, 2024.
She stated that the deceased had left home on December 4 to meet the first suspect, Augustina Fiawoyife, and never returned.
It was later discovered that Augustina was in a relationship with the second suspect, Wisdom Hedidor, who had grown jealous over his ongoing relationship with the deceased and hatched the scheme to kill him, which was executed according to plan.
Around that time, the fourth suspect, Gblor Noah, reportedly earlier solicited a human body for ritual purposes in exchange for a substantial payment.
The third suspect, Courage Bedzo, relayed this request to Hedidor, who then agreed to carry out the murder.
On December 12, 2024, Augustina lured the deceased to a secluded area near DC Bungalow, a suburb of Adidome, while the victim engaged her in conversation, Hedidor and Bedzo ambushed and strangled him to death, with Augustina allegedly witnessing the act without intervening.
The third suspect subsequently contacted the fetish priest, who arrived at the scene with the sixth suspect, Gblor Yohannes and bought the deceased’s body for GH¢7,000, which was transported to the shrine in Gblorkope, where it was used in ritual ceremonies before being buried under the idols.
Following the recovery of Nelson Anyana’s remains and those of other unidentified individuals, all six suspects had earlier appeared before a District Court in Ho, charged with abetment of crime to wit murder and conspiracy to commit crime to wit murder.
Police investigators say further forensic analysis was underway based on the new discoveries to determine the identities of the additional victims and appropriate charges for the suspects.
The discovery has sparked outrage and fear among residents of the Central Tongu District, with many calling for swift justice and a broader investigation into possible ritualistic networks in the region.
The Ghana Police Service has reaffirmed its commitment to pursuing the case thoroughly and ensuring all perpetrators face the full rigours of the law.
The following links to articles from various sources (GhanaWeb, Modern Ghana) provide more information on this spectacular and revolting ritual murder case.
Source: The Homicide Unit of the Ghana Police Service has achieved a significant breakthrough with the discovery and exhumation of multiple human remains at a shrine in Gblorkope, Central Tongu District, Volta Region. The operation was launched following the suspected ritual murder of 28-year old Nelson Ayana, who went missing in December 2024. Source: GhanaWeb
Although the following article dates from early this year (January 30), its contents warrants presentation here.
Nigeria is notoriously known for its ritual murders, locally called ‘money rituals’, and I’ve included many news reports on ritual murder cases on this site. Nevertheless, the following is worth reading.
What makes the article even more harrowing is the, presumably, big gap between reported ritual murders and actual ritualistic murders. In Nigeria as well as elsewhere on the African continent, an unknown but significant number of people disappear without trace every year.
Warning: the following article may disturb readers because of its graphic contents. (FVDK)
Nigeria records 150 ritual killings in 6 months, experts call for urgent action
Kaduna, Kano, Katsina residents seek death sentence for ritualists, cannibals
Published: January 30, 2025 By: Pulse, Nigeria
NAN reports that the police have apprehended many of the ritualists including a man who killed his mother, grandmother, sister and her son in Enugu.
A security expert, Mr Seyi Babaeko has raised concerns over the surge in ritual killings in the country, calling for urgent measures to address the trend.
Babaeko, the Managing Director of Absolute Security and Advance Protocol Ltd. expressed his feelings in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos.
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) revealed that over 150 ritual killing cases were recorded in Nigeria in the past six months.
NAN reports that the police have apprehended many of the ritualists including a man who killed his mother, grandmother, sister and her son on November 27 in the Amaeze community in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State.
The Ogun Police also apprehended twin brothers for alleged murder and dismembering of a lady after luring her to their Abeokuta residence on December 22.
Similarly, a local church operator allegedly killed a 55-year-old widow on November 6, in her apartment at Umuediabali community in Ahiazu Mbaise LGA of Imo. He cut off her private organs and her breasts.
Also, the police apprehended a man, 29, who killed his mother on Christmas Day, shaved her hair and dumped her body in a well in Batriko, Eastern Boki LGA of Cross River State.
According to Babaeko, the rise in ritual killings in Nigeria is a disturbing trend that reflects deeper socio-economic, cultural, and security challenges.
He said that the growing desperation for wealth, widespread belief in supernatural influences on success, and the erosion of moral values had fueled the menace.
Economic hardship, high unemployment rates, and the glamorisation of sudden wealth in society have pushed many, especially young people into desperate and criminal actions.
The responsibility for the increase is multifaceted. While individuals who perpetrate these crimes are primarily to blame, societal values and institutional failures also contribute
According to him, the media, particularly social media, often amplifies stories of young people acquiring wealth mysteriously, indirectly encouraging others to seek similar paths.
The expert said that some traditional and religious leaders, who should condemn such acts, remain silent or complicit.
He said that the law enforcement agencies, which should deter such crimes through swift investigations and punishments, had not been proactive enough in tackling the issue.
The failure of law enforcement to track and punish offenders effectively contributes to the increase, he added.
He urged the government to take urgent steps to address the growing insecurity.
Expert raises concern over rising cases of ritual killings in Nigeria.
The government should strengthen the criminal justice system to ensure swift prosecution of offenders is critical. He stated;
Security agencies must intensify intelligence gathering and surveillance to dismantle networks involved in ritual killings.
Public enlightenment campaigns should be launched to counter the belief that human sacrifice leads to wealth.
Additionally, economic policies should prioritise job creation, as financial stability will reduce the desperation that drives some individuals toward such crimes
According to him, a coordinated effort among stakeholders is necessary to curb the menace and restore security across the country. He noted;
Community and religious leaders must play a more active role in addressing the root causes of ritual killings.
Traditional institutions should publicly denounce these practices, while faith-based organisations should emphasise ethical means of achieving success.
Schools must incorporate moral education into their curricula to instil strong values in young people.
Parents also have a role to play in guiding their children away from negative influences.
Tackling ritual killings requires a holistic approach that combines strong law enforcement, economic empowerment, community engagement, and a reorientation of societal values.
