Category Archives: Dakar

Senegal – a suspected ritual murder: girl found decapitated, investigators favor the ritual murder theory

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Reports of ritualistic murder are rare in Senegal, but this doesn’t mean that this ugly practice does not exist in this West African, predominantly Muslim country. Moreover, reportedly there seems to be a relation between unexplained disappearances notably of small children, ritualistic murders and elections – see e.g. my May 12, 2018 post ‘Archbishop condemns ritual killing of children in Senegal‘.

A 5-year old girl in the Kanda Fodé Bayo neighborhood of Kahone, in the Kaolack region, was found brutally murdered – the poor girl was beheaded – and suspicion arose quickly that the suspected perpetrator had committed the crime for ritualistic purposes.

Read the full story below.

Warning: This article contains graphic details of murder that some readers may find distressing
(webmaster FVDK)

Girl decapitated: investigators favor the ritual murder theory

The handcuffed suspect.

Published: February 21, 2026
By: Senewebnews-RP

The investigation into the brutal murder of a 5-year-old girl in the Kanda Fodé Bayo neighborhood of Kahone, in the Kaolack region, is progressing. The suspect, L. Sall (30 years old), who has been staying with the victim’s family for the past two weeks, is still being questioned by investigators. According to information obtained by Libération, his custody is expected to be extended until Monday to allow the Kaolack gendarmerie to fully understand the circumstances of this extremely violent act.

A chilling modus operandi

On the night of February 17-18, Libération recounts, the suspect abducted the little girl while she slept alongside her sisters. He took her to a construction site 200 meters from their home before committing the act. After removing the child’s earrings and protective charm, he undressed her and then coldly decapitated her. The murderer then attempted to open the victim’s ribcage to extract her heart, a gruesome detail that reinforces the theory of a ritualistic crime, according to the same source.

The suspect’s contradictory accounts

When questioned by investigators, Lamine Sall offered several conflicting accounts. As reported by the newspaper, he initially claimed the attack was an act of revenge stemming from a dispute with the girl’s parents, a theory categorically denied by those close to him. He then asserted that he acted in a fit of rage, thinking of a former partner living in Dakar who shared the same first name as the victim. Finally, cornered, he went so far as to blame his own father, accusing him of failing to provide him with a “proper upbringing.”

The ritual crime theory is being given priority.

Several clues rule out the theory of dementia or an uncontrolled impulse. “Lamine Sall was completely lucid at the time of his act.” Furthermore, the observed absence of sexual abuse definitively points the investigation toward a mystical or sacrificial motive, supported by the removal of ritual objects (gris-gris) before the killing, the newspaper reports.

Auteur: SenewebNews-RP
Publié le: Samedi 21 Février 2026

Source: Girl decapitated: investigators favor the ritual murder theory

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Girl beheaded in Kahone: the murder weapon bought for 1500 FCFA and the promise of the “Djinn”

The suspect (left) and the victim (right)

Published: February 25, 2026
By: SenewebNews-RP

L. Sall, 30, is now the subject of a judicial investigation for kidnapping, murder, and acts of barbarity in the case of 5-year-old D. Sow, who was beheaded in Kahone. According to Libération, which broke the story, the investigation conducted by the Kaolack territorial brigade revealed a chilling premeditation. As reported by the newspaper, the accused admitted to buying the murder weapon, a knife, the day before the crime at the Kaolack market for 1,500 CFA francs. He then abducted the girl from his own uncle’s home and slit her throat in an isolated building.

The ritual crime theory is being given priority.

Several elements are leading investigators toward this theory, the newspaper reports. The accused claims that a djinn promised him wealth and marriage in a dream if he sacrificed the little girl. He also admitted to recently visiting a marabout (a Muslim religious leader) to seek prayers to find a wife. Furthermore, the day before the tragedy, he was seen by the victim’s mother at the crime scene “talking at length on the phone.” Sall claims to have discussed agriculture “with a relative living in Vélin-gara,” but this has not convinced investigators.

A profile of a violent repeat offender

The investigation also shed light on the suspect’s dark past. Before taking refuge in Kahone, he lived in Dakar (Bène Baraque) where he had attempted to rape his neighbor, D. Sall. After failing, he stabbed her while she was performing her ablutions for dawn prayer, before fleeing to escape mob justice, the same source added.

Auteur: Senewebnews-RP
Publié le: Mercredi 25 Février 2026

Source: Girl beheaded in Kahone: the murder weapon bought for 1500 FCFA and the promise of the “Djinn”

Les Enfants d’Abord Launches Campaign to End Violence Against Children in Senegal

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Les Enfants d’Abord Launches Campaign to End Violence Against Children in Senegal

Published: 25 April 2018

NEW ORLEANS – April 24, 2018 – PRLog — Non-profit organization Les Enfants d’Abord, based in New Orleans and supported by community organizers and local influencers, launches its campaign to end horrifying violence against children in the country of Senegal.

The previous four months have seen a staggering rise in kidnappings and child killings in Senegal which has cultivated an air of fear across the country. Although the direct cause of the violence is unknown, the outbreak is believed to be fueled by an increase in crime and rumors that ritualistic human sacrifice, organ harvesting, and amputation may bring luck to candidates during the political season.

Les Enfants d’Abord was founded in New Orleans with the mission of assisting in the healthy development of children in Senegal and has expanded that mission to include combating this unimaginable violence. The organization currently provides youth education and community health programs to underserved children and their families and will now provide violence prevention, safety training, and a safe haven for youth. Children are now able to play sports and games under the supervision of responsible adults who have gone through background checks – a main point of satisfaction mentioned by parents of the children.

“The recent increase in violence against children in Senegal cannot be tolerated,” said Les Enfants d’Abord President Jaryd Kase. “Our organization is working tirelessly to engage with law enforcement, policymakers, community leaders, and families so that our resources are used in the most effective way to combat this troubling increase in child-related violence.”

Les Enfants d’Abord efforts include leading a march through the streets of Thiès as well as launching an educational campaign to teach communities how to better protect their children. This includes identifying safe spaces in which children can play, encouraging stronger parental oversight, and urging community members to report anything unusual to local authorities as well as to only interfere when it is safe to do so.

The growth of the mission was prompted by no less than six cases of missing children in Dakar this year, the capital of Senegal. According to news sources, the corpses are typically found days after a child has disappeared. Mutilation of the bodies has included removal of organs such as the heart, kidney, and genitals. However, it is thought that many more cases have not been reported due to the association with individuals of high rank or status.

Les Enfants d’Abord is calling on those who wish to get involved to join the conversation, support, volunteer, and donate to their efforts to safeguard the children of Senegal. Although educational programs and safe spaces may not change preconceptions immediately, it will demonstrate the value of each child and the bright future that should be available to all children worldwide.

Senegal’s chief Catholic cleric, Archbishop Benjamin Ndiaye, condemned the killings stating, “No amount of political ambition, or the taste for riches, or any other motive justifies the taking away of innocent lives or any threat to their dignity.”

Senegal’s President Macky Sall has also condemned the killings assuring residents, “I have already given the firmest instructions [to the police] to track down these criminals, to bring them to justice.”

Les Enfants d’Abord operates in Thiès, Senegal, on Africa’s west coast, with a population of 320,000. The city is known for its livestock, tapestries, and a rich French colonial heritage that supports a vibrant arts and music scene.

The “city of the train” and the third largest city in Senegal is considered to be fertile ground for the future growth as one of the country’s hubs for education and business. Les Enfants d’Abord believes that the children of Thiès are the key to that future.

About Les Enfants d’Abord
Les Enfants d’Abord (www.enfants-dabord.org) is a non-profit organization that provides youth education and community health programs to underserved children and their families in Senegal. Les Enfants d’Abord, French for “Children First”, was founded in 2016 with the goal of creating excitement and curiosity around learning through opportunities for self-driven, experiential education that supplements public school education in order to foster critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and strong self-esteem.

President Macky Sall: “Nous allons traquer les malfaiteurs qui s’attaquent aux enfants” – March 23, 2018 (“We will deal with the criminals who attack our children”)

J’ai appris avec douleur ces rapts d’enfants suivis de meurtres. J’ai déjà donné des instructions les plus fermes” aux forces de sécurité pour “traquer ces malfaiteurs, les traduire devant la justice

Referenced Quote from Archbishop Benjamin Ndiaye: CruxNow
‘Archbishop condemns ritual killing of children in Senegal’

JOIN THE CAMPAIGN: www.enfants-dabord.org/enfants

Available for interviews:
Jaryd Kase,
President, Les Enfants d’Abord
jaryd@enfants-dabord.org

Source: Les Enfants d’Abord, April 25, 2018

Archbishop condemns ritual killing of children in Senegal

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Dakar Archbishop Benjamin Ndiaye

Published April 5, 2018
By AFRICA_CORRESPONDENT Ngala Killian Chimtom

YAOUNDÉ, Cameroon – Senegal’s top Catholic cleric has condemned a series of ritualistic killings in the West African country.

This year has seen a sharp rise in child killings in Senegal – a phenomenon blamed on politicians looking for wealth and power approaching witchdoctors to perform black magic rituals.

Local media have counted at least six cases in Dakar, the capital, this year. The corpses of the victims are usually found days after they disappear-mutilated, certain parts like the genitals, the heart and the kidneys taken away.

Dakar Archbishop Benjamin Ndiaye said that “no amount of political ambition, or the taste for riches, or any other motive justifies the taking away of innocent lives or any threat to their dignity.” He was speaking to over 20,000 young people at the 33rd edition of diocesan World Youth Day.

The archbishop referred to the Prophet Jeremiah’s warning – “do not shed innocent blood” – noting that that warning made in Old Testament times is still relevant today in view of what is happening with children in Senegal. “When I think about the abduction of children, at ritual killings, I have the impression that these prophetic words are addressed directly to us today,” Ndiaye said. “No one has the right to take another’s life,” the archbishop said. “If you can’t give life, why should you have the power to take it?”

Over 90 percent of Senegal’s population professes to be Muslim, while only 5 percent are Christian, with the majority of Christians being Catholic. Despite this fact, many still practice animist rituals and almost all cities and villages have resident witch doctors.

In March, a 14-year-old girl from Khombole College, east of Dakar, was taken by unknown assailants, but the girl was too old for whoever hired the kidnappers. “Fortunately for me, I did not meet the criteria,” the girl told Radio Futurs Médias. “The man wanted children aged between 2-4 years.”

But two-year-old Fallou Diop wasn’t so lucky. His body was found on March 22 on a farm near his parents’ home in Rufisque – less than 20 miles east of Dakar. “He was playing with his twin sister when unknown people took him away,” the child’s mother told the newspaper Le Monde.

The killings have created a climate of fear in Senegal and the government has promised to take action.

President Macky Sall has promised to track down and bring the perpetrators to justice, saying he learned about the killings and abductions “with much pain.” “Senegal will do more than in the past to halt these terrible acts,” he told Radio Futurs Médias.

Senegal’s Director of Public Security and Senior Superintendent of Police Abdoulaye Diop said he had set up a taskforce to fight the practice. “The general feeling of insecurity will be dissipated,” he told Le Monde. “That is why we have taken strong measures to reinforce national security.”

The phenomenon is not specific to Senegal alone. Ritual killings have been reported in several other African countries, including Uganda, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Cameroon and South Africa.

Those who practice human sacrifice and ritual killings believe them to be acts of spiritual fortification.

Witch doctors use human body parts for supposed medicinal purposes and for black magic rituals which aim to bring prosperity and protection.

Many of the killings usually go unreported and uninvestigated, often because they involve those at the highest levels of power, both in government and business.

Popular protests

On Saturday, March 24, about 500,000 people gathered in Dakar to protest against ritual killings, many of them dressed in black in a symbol of mourning. They brandished slogans such as “Dafadoy” meaning “it’s enough!”

“It’s a cry from the heart to call on parents and the government to take their responsibilities and protect our children,” said Anta Pierre Loum, one of the organizers of the march.

“I am only a mother who has stood up to protest. The death of little Fallou was one more death too many. Senegal has never known a similar wave of assaults on children. The other day, my son woke up with a start – he just had a nightmare and was crying: ‘Don’t take me away!’ This has to stop.”

With one year remaining until Senegal’s next presidential election, many observers are suggesting that the spike in killings is due to candidates seeking help from witch doctors.

Source: CruxNow, April 5, 2018

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