Traditional healers Mandla Lekhuleni popularly known as Prof Lekhuleni, Rei Magoxa Mozambique and Sefadi Mohami are to be commended for their outspoken condemnation of ritualistic violence, muti murders and sexual abuse of women and children. Likewise, police sergeant Nomsa Katekani Macevele did a great job in bringing to justice an unscrupulous father who violated and raped his own daughter.
It is hearthening to realize that we should not tar all sangomas with the same brush. It is never correct to generalize!
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the article below also establishes beyond any doubt that South Africa and South Africans face a harsh reality: sexual violence, accusations of witchcraft, child mutilation, human sacrifice and muti murder are no exception in this southern African country whereas in some case sangomas play a perverse role in these heinous crimes. The present site contains numerous examples proving this observation to be correct. (NB Use the dropdown menu under ‘African countries’ to access all posts on South Africa). (webmaster FVDK)
Sangomas strongly condemn abuse as Limpopo father raped teenage daughter after rituals at a grave
Published: March 2, 2026 By: Jonisayi Maromo – IOL, South Africa
Traditional healers Mandla Lekhuleni popularly known as Prof Lekhuleni, Rei Magoxa Mozambique and fellow traditional healer Sefadi Mohami during a gathering in Ekangala, City of Tshwane, where they united in condemning muthi murders, ritual killings and the abuse of women and children, saying such acts have no place in African traditional healing. (Image: Jonisayi Maromo/ IOL)
The Malamulele Regional in Limpopo court has imposed a life-term imprisonment against a 44 year-old man who was accused of raping his 17-year-old biological daughter at Matiyani village.
Provincial police spokesperson, Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, said on 20 September 2023 at about 5 pm, the victim was at home with her parents when her father decided to take her to a graveyard to perform rituals at her grandfather’s grave.
The name of the rapist father is withheld to protect the identity of the abused child from secondary victimisation.
“On their arrival at the graveyard, the accused (father) performed the rituals and finished in the evening at about 21:00. Afterward, the duo retreated to their residence, and while walking in the bushes, the accused grabbed his daughter and suddenly raped her,” said Ledwaba.
“Following the horrendous act, the victim was threatened and instructed not to tell anyone about the incident.”
After a year of silence, the abused teenager ultimately revealed the ordeal to her uncle’s wife in February 2024.
The incident was reported to the local police and immediately transferred to the Giyani family violence, child protection and sexual offences (FCS) unit.
“Sergeant Nomsa Katekani Macevele was assigned to investigate the matter, and through her indefatigable efforts, the 44 year-old male accused was apprehended the next day on 20 February 2024,” said Ledwaba.
Macevele successfully opposed bail until the accused father was sentenced to life-term imprisonment by the Malamulele Regional Court on Tuesday. Police in Limpopo have welcomed the harsh sentence.
Provincial commissioner of police in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe (Image: SAPS)
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, while others have been attacked by community members when such incidents come to light.
“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. 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 said.
He rejected claims that human sacrifice or abuse of women and children forms part of African traditional healing.
Traditional healer Mandla Lekhuleni popularly known as Prof Lekhuleni, condemned muthi murders, ritual killings and the abuse of women and children, saying such acts have no place in African traditional healing. (Image: Jonisayi Maromo/ IOL)
“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.
Warning: the article presented below contains graphic details of torture and murder that some readers may find distressing.
The main thrust of the article presented below was already the focus of an 2014 article which I posted in 2019, Children accused of witchcraft: abuse cases on the rise in UK. More than ten year after the publication of the first-mentioned article there is reason to again draw attention to this terrifying phenomenon. It is difficult to imagine that in our immediate environment children are abused, tortured, and sometimes killed because of the belief in witchcraft of the adult perpetrators, sometimes close relatives.
It all began with the discovery of the mutilated torso of a young boy floating in the river Thames, in 2001. The police gave him the name ‘Adam’ and under this name the poor victim became known worldwide. I have covered in much detail the horrific and sickening discovery and the harrowing story behind it. See my posts entitled The unsolved case of the torso in the Thames, Part I (dated March 25, 2019), Part II (March 27, 2019) and Part III (March 28, 2019).
Unfortunately, the case of ‘Adam’ does not stand alone as the article below amply demonstrates.
We must all be vigilant in identifying signs of child abuse and other crimes promptly and bringing them to the immediate attention of the authorities and relevant agencies. Vulnerable individuals in our society, such as young children, deserve a normal, loving life, free from threats and pain. (webmaster FVDK)
The disturbing evidence that witchcraft is spreading across Britain unchecked… 30 years after discovery of horrific voodoo-style murder should have ended it for good
Published: February 26, 2026 By: Aidan Radnedge and Nick Pyke, The Daily Mail
A quarter of a century has passed since the death of eight-year-old Victoria Climbie and the shocking realisation that voodoo-style murder and abuse were taking hold in the capital of a modern, affluent democracy.
Victoria met a horrific end. Tortured, beaten with implements including coat hangers and a bike chain, deliberately scalded and forced to sleep in a bin liner in a freezing bathroom, she finally died of multiple organ failure at the age of eight. Her tiny body, weighing just 3st 10lb, was marked by 128 separate injuries.
Her ‘crime’? The girl was said by relatives to have been possessed by ‘kindoki’, or evil spirits, requiring exorcism by a pastor and justifying a campaign of sadistic violence.
The killing in 2000 and the public enquiry that followed should have been seismic: a warning to the public and politicians that, however improbable, belief in witchcraft was emerging as a fact of life in Britain.
Yet today, despite the horror of Victoria’s death and subsequent cases, there is disturbing evidence that ritual violence – involving beliefs and practices overwhelmingly imported from abroad – is continuing to spread unchecked.
The latest official figures show a huge increase in the number of children identified as potential victims of abuse ‘linked to faith or belief’, a category including claims of witchcraft and spirit possession.
Analysis released late last year by the Local Government Association, representing councils and their social services departments in England, found there had been 2,180 cases of possible faith-linked abuse in 2024, a disturbing 49 per cent increase in the seven years since 2017.
Moreover, the true scale of the problem could be significantly worse amid fears that ritual abuse is routinely under-reported because social workers and others wish to avoid being labelled racist.
Among the most notorious cases was eight-year-old Victoria Climbié, tortured to death in 2000 by relatives who believed she was possessed
With motives ranging from ignorance and fear to the demented belief that human sacrifice confers supernatural protection, and even wealth, the cases that do reach the public eye are harrowing, the majority with links to sub-Saharan Africa.
A recent documentary film, Kindoki Witch Boy, tells the story of Mardoche Yembi, who had been sent from the Democratic Republic of Congo to live with his aunt and uncle in North London.
At the age of 12, Mardoche was branded a witch by relatives, accused of bringing bad luck and subjected to two months of traumatic exorcisms. The film is now available on YouTube.
An even more disturbing case took place on Christmas Day in 2010, when 15-year-old Kristy Bamu was beaten and drowned by his sister and her boyfriend in the London borough of Newham after being accused of ‘kindoki’, like Victoria Climbie.
Kristy endured four days of torture with knives, sticks, metal bars, a hammer and pliers. He drowned after being forced into a bath for ritual cleansing. Kristy’s siblings were also beaten but survived because they ‘confessed’ to being witches.
Magalie Bamu, then 29, and her partner Eric Bikubi, 28 – both Congolese – were jailed for life in 2012.
In sentencing them, the judge said: ‘The belief in witchcraft, however genuine, cannot excuse an assault to another person, let alone the killing of another human being.’
There are accusations of ‘possession’ in other cultures, too, with cases of abuse reported in Christian, Hindu and Muslim families, where some still believe in the idea of evil spirits known as ‘djinns’.
Just days before Kristy’s Bamu’s murder, Shayma Ali strangled then disembowelled her four-year-old daughter with a kitchen knife during a frenzied attempt to exorcise the girl.
Ali, who had gouged out the eyes of her daughter’s dolls to prevent them ‘seeing evil’, was sent to a mental hospital.
In 2005, two women were jailed at the Old Bailey after being convicted of child cruelty for torturing and threatening to kill an orphaned child refugee from Angola whom they claimed was a witch.
The Old Bailey was told that the girl, known only as Child B, was starved, cut with a knife, beaten with a belt and a shoe and had chilli peppers rubbed in her eyes to drive ‘the devil out of her’.
At one point, the eight-year-old was bundled into a zip-up laundry bag and told she would be ‘thrown away’ into a river. She was rescued after being found in her bare feet, shivering, outside a council house in Hackney.
His head, arms and legs had been removed in what detectives believe was a ritual killing, potentially as a sacrifice or in a ‘muti’ ceremony, in which body parts are taken in the belief they produce potent magical remedies.
The boy, aged between four and seven and found wearing only a pair of orange shorts, had recently arrived from Nigeria.
Britain’s leading rituals expert, Dr Richard Hoskins, brought into advise on the case, concluded that Adam was a victim of human sacrifice.
Victoria Climbié had been sent to England by her parents who hoped she would gain a better education than in her native Ivory CoastVictoria’s parents set up the Victoria Climbié Foundation following her death, campaigning for improvements to child protection in the UK
His 2012 book on the subject, The Boy in the River was serialised in The Mail on Sunday and is now scheduled to be dramatised as a feature film.
Dr Hoskins concluded that the boy had been trafficked to London, speculating that he was butchered while drugged but conscious by a ‘babalawo’ witchdoctor using rituals from the Yoruba people Osagiede of south-west Nigeria.
In Yoruban religion, wrote Dr Hoskins, ‘deities forming a bridge between this world and higher realms require sacrifice.
‘Not necessarily human sacrifice, of course, and especially not nowadays, but the practice persists in some deviant offshoots.’
In 2002, a Nigerian woman called Joyce Osagiede told Glasgow social workers that she had married a member of a cult called The Black Coat Eyes Of The Devil Guru Maharaj.
When later interviewed by British police in Lagos, she said she had been a cult organiser and had bought a pair of orange-red shorts similar to those found on Adam. She added: ‘I know he was killed in Lewisham.’
Osagiede later claimed to an ITV journalist that she had brought Adam to London and that his real name was Ikpomwosa. No one has ever been charged with his murder.
Yet it is the fate of Victoria Climbié that today remains the most notorious case of witchcraft abuse and killing in this country.
Victoria had been sent to England by her parents to gain a better education than in her native Ivory Coast but found only misery and death.
Victoria Climbié was starved, tortured, beaten with bike chains and kept prisoner in a freezing bathroom by her great-aunt Marie Therese Kouao and her partner Carl Manning (pictured)Marie-Therese Kouao (left), Victoria Climbié’s great-aunt, was complicit in her murder
Her great-aunt Marie Therese Kouao and her partner Carl Manning were jailed for life in 2001, convicted of murder and child cruelty.
The case was followed by a major public enquiry under Lord Laming which, in turn led to an overhaul of child protection measures in the UK, including the landmark 2004 Children Act.
Even now, ritual violence receives all-too-little attention, says Lancaster University’s Professor Charlotte Baker, who is co-director of the International Network Against Accusations of Witchcraft and Ritual Attacks.
‘If you spoke to many people about this issue, they’d think it was something from about 1,400 years ago,’ she told The Daily Mail last week.
‘Many schoolteachers might feel they shouldn’t ‘go there’, if they suspect something is taking place because they’re not comfortable handling such issues.
‘This needs to be treated seriously, disclosures need to be treated seriously – and the right questions need to be asked.
‘The UK must improve and make sure that anyone who does speak up to make disclosures about this abuse being carried out are taken seriously and responded to professionally.’
Former Conservative MP Tim Loughton, children’s minister in David Cameron’s coalition government and later chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee, had his own experience of trying to combat ritual abuse.
Victoria’s parents Berthe and Francis are pictured at her grave in Kensal Rise Crematorium in London, along with daughter Joelle, in 2003 on the third anniversary of Victoria’s deathA boy named Adam’s head, arms and legs were removed in what detectives believe was a ritual ‘muti’ killing – his torso was discovered in the River Thames near Tower Bridge in 2001
‘The particular problem [at the time] was among communities of migrants from places such as the Congo, which were very closed communities, mostly but not exclusively in London, with very evangelical Christian church settings,’ he recalls.
‘There were very strange practices, all connected with voodoo – abusing children in attempts to drive the devil out of them and all this sort of nonsense.’
During his time in office, he launched a task force on faith-based child abuse, but he fears that official attention has now slipped.
Rohma Ullah, director of the National FGM (Female Genital Mutilation) Centre – which also tackles what it refers to as witchcraft and spirit possession abuse – is among those who believe frontline staff are wary of raising the alarm.
‘Witchcraft and spirit possession are among the most poorly understood areas in child protection,’ she says. ‘That’s really concerning and alarming. We know the data is not good enough and that professionals don’t know how to act. They don’t know what to do.
‘Professionals are anxious about discussing someone’s faith or beliefs because it’s very personal.
‘They fear being accused of being racist, for example – and so questions don’t get asked and opportunities get missed.’
She says that teachers as well as social workers should be alert to signs of abuse – such as, for example, a child appearing tired through having to pray all night to be rid of a devil inside them, or losing weight because food is being withheld at home.
15-year-old Kristy Bamu was beaten and drowned on Christmas Day 2010 by his sister and her boyfriend in east London after being accused of being a witchFollowing the murder, Magalie Bamu (left) and Eric Bikubi (right) were jailed for life
‘I would say the situation is fragmented,’ she continues. ‘Social workers are skilled in safeguarding, teachers are skilled in educating, police officers are skilling in preventing and addressing crime – but they also need to be equipped with specialist knowledge on this particular issue.’
Ms Ullah suggests the current figures, disturbing as they are, ‘probably don’t reflect the true prevalence of something that’s very hidden.’
She believes allegations of witchcraft and spirit possession receive too little attention when abusers to court and suggests they should be flagged as aggravating features when the perpetrators are sentenced.
And witchcraft has now been included for the first time in new toughened-up Crown Prosecution Guidance, published today in a bid to tackle ‘honour’-based abuse, forced marriage and other abuses.
Newly included in guidance for prosecutors are practices such as dowry abuse, immigration-related exploitation, transnational marriage abandonment and spiritual or ritualistic abuse linked to beliefs in witchcraft, spirit possession or demonic influence.
While there is no standalone withcraft-related offence, the Home Office said: ‘Prosecutors must treat these cases as serious criminality within the wider context of harmful practices and “honour”-based abuse, assessing which offences may apply on a case-by-case basis.’
Baljit Ubhey, CPS director of policy, said: ‘Our updated guidance equips prosecutors to identify emerging patterns of abuse, understand the wider context in which it occurs, and take swift, effective action to safeguard victims and bring perpetrators to justice.’
It is not as if we haven’t been warned. It is more than a decade since the United Nations reported: ‘Hundreds of children have been abducted from their families in Africa and trafficked to the UK, especially London. Many are raped and sexually abused.’
Commenting in The Mail on Sunday at the time, Dr Hoskins went further, arguing that ‘London has become the hub, the epicentre for a global trafficking enterprise involving thousands of children for exploitation, sexual abuse and even, in some unspeakable cases, ritual voodoo killing…’
‘There is a vast reservoir of lost children gathering in our own capital anonymously shuffled from flat to shabby flat – a dark pool feeding child exploitation and misery across the planet.’
Today’s evidence suggests that, chillingly, this terrible picture might now be darker still.
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
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
‘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.”
Cameroon isn’t often in the news with respect to ritualistic killings. As a mainly Francophone country, it escapes my daily search for Internet news about ritual killings in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). However, this does not mean that the country is an exception in SSA.
Almost by accident I stumbled upon a suspected case of ritual murder and another case of a child beaten to death after being accused of witchcraft. Horrible cases, senseless killings.
Both incidents happened in 2023 as the following report shows.
The article ends with a cry for justice, condemning the present situation of silence becoming the norm in this Central African country. (webmaster FVDK)
A nation in mourning – innocent lives lost to senseless violence
Published: May 14, 2025 By: Cameroon Concord
(…)
From urban centres like Douala and Yaoundé to towns like Sangmélima and Bamenda, child killings have become a recurring and underreported national crisis.
Chronology of Recent Child Murders in Cameroon (2022–2025)
Date
Name / Age
Location
Summary
Nov 2022
Baby Bisong, 4 mo.
Buea
Killed by a stray bullet during military patrol in Molyko.
Jan 2023
Ariane, 6
Yaoundé
Allegedly beaten to death by her aunt, accused of witchcraft.
Mar 2023
Baby Divine, 7 mo.
Bamenda
Shot during military raid. Claimed to be collateral.
Aug 2023
Unnamed, 8
Kribi
Found mutilated on the beach. Suspected ritual murder.
Oct 2023
Baby Chantal, 2
Douala
Murdered by domestic worker. Arrest made.
May 2025
Mathis, 6
Yaoundé
Stabbed by neighbour in revenge killing.
May 2025
Unnamed, 2
Sangmélima
Found dead in water. Authorities refused to open an investigation.
Each case bears a similar theme: impunity, silence, and failing institutions. Whether by bullet, blade, or beatings, children are paying the ultimate price in a country where violence festers unchecked.
(…)
Cameroonians are asking hard questions:
Why are more disputes ending in bloodshed?
Why does poverty, anger, and hopelessness often turn inward — toward the most vulnerable?
Why do authorities fail to act, even when evidence and outcry are overwhelming?
From ritual killings, domestic abuse, military violence, to mob justice, a terrifying normalization of brutality is taking hold.
“Le crime devient une norme silencieuse. La peur habite les esprits. L’indifférence gagne les cœurs.”
Translation:
“Crime becomes a silent norm. Fear inhabits our minds. Indifference wins our hearts.”
As a follow-up to my March 22 post on the murder of a four-year-old girl in a suspected ritual killing, more details have emerged with respect to the prime suspect of the murder, Levi Amaratunga, a Kitagwenda District councillor, gospel singer, pastor and uncle of the victim.
Warning: the following article contains graphic details which may upset readers (FVDK).
Child’s uncle held over a suspected ritual murder
Published: March 22, 2025 By: Jonan Tusingwire – Msm, Uganda
Kitagwenda District Councillor Levi Amaratunga, uncle of the victim and prime suspect
Child sacrifice is – sadly – a widespread phenomenon in Uganda which even has led to a special Wikipedia page.
On the present site I have posted numerous cases of children murdered for ritualistic purposes – while not pretending to have covered all ritual murders involving children since 2018. (Please note that I only started this site in 2018.)
The latest reported chid sacrifice took the life of a four-year-old girl, Trinah Ainomugisha. She was the daughter of Vincent Bagarukayo and Catherine Nyakato, residents of Kanyara village, Kikondo ward in Kabujogera Town Council. Her father, Vincent Bagarukayo, expressed his sorrow, he called for justice and shocked the public stating that “I have now lost two children under similar circumstances. One of my children went missing, and despite reporting to the police, he has never been found. I strongly suspect the same person behind Trinah’s murder could have kidnapped my son as well.”
Police arrested four persons suspected of involvement in the brutal murder of Trinah Ainomugisha. The prime suspect is an elected official, Kitagwenda District Councilor for Persons with Disabilities Levi Amarakutunga.
Kitagwenda District is a district in Western Uganda. Kitagwenda District is part of the Tooro Kingdom, one of the ancient traditional monarchies in Uganda.
Read more details in the three articles presented below.
NB It may be superfluous but the reader is reminded that no person is guilty unless found guilty by an independent court during a public trial. (FVDK)
Kitagwenda District Councilor for Persons with Disabilities Levi Amarakutunga – the prime suspect in the murder of four-year-old Trinah Ainomugisha.
Kitagwenda Councilor, Three Others Arrested Over Child Sacrifice Allegations
Published: March 18, 2025 By: Ivan Mugisha – Nile Post, Uganda
Kitagwenda District Police Commander Bashir Bakulumpangi said the incident began on Sunday evening when Trinah’s mother sent her to deliver Shs10,000 to a person who had requested it.
Security operatives in Kitagwenda district have arrested four individuals, including a district councilor, in connection with the killing of a four-year-old girl in what is suspected to be a ritual sacrifice.
The suspects include Levi Amarakutunga, a district councilor representing persons with disabilities in Kitagwenda district, and three of his workers whose identities police have not disclosed.
The deceased, Trinah Ainomugisha, was the daughter of Vincent Bagarukayo and Catherine Nyakato, residents of Kanyara village, Kikondo ward in Kabujogera Town Council.
Kitagwenda District Police Commander Bashir Bakulumpangi said the incident began on Sunday evening when Trinah’s mother sent her to deliver Shs10,000 to a person who had requested it.
The girl did not return, prompting her mother to alert the area chairperson, who mobilized a search party. Their efforts proved futile.
On Monday morning, Nyakato reported the matter to Kabujogera Town Council Police Post, and the case was escalated to Kitagwenda Central Police Station, which deployed a canine unit.
The sniffer dog led officers to Nyakagezi cell, where they found the girl’s body in a farm.
“The body had a deep cut on the neck, a sign that the child may have been brutally sacrificed,” Bakulumpangi said.
The sniffer dog then led investigators to Amarakutunga’s residence, where officers reportedly found blood-stained evidence. This led to the arrest of Amarakutunga and his three workers.
Upon hearing the news, enraged residents stormed Amarakutunga’s farm, destroying his banana plantation and cutting four of his cows.
Police intervened to prevent further destruction.
“We understand the community’s anger, but we urge them to remain calm and allow investigations to proceed,” Bakulumpangi said.
Authorities say a thorough investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of Trinah’s death and whether it was indeed a case of ritual sacrifice.
“We are gathering all necessary evidence to ensure justice is served,” Bakulumpangi said.
The suspects remain in custody as investigations continue.
Kitagwenda Residents Demand Justice for Murdered 4-Year-Old Girl
Published: March 18, 2025 By: Ivan Mugisha – Nile Post, Uganda
During an emotionally charged burial in Kikondo Parish, Kabujogera Town Council, the child’s father, Vincent Bagarukayo, expressed his devastation and called for swift investigations.
Parents and residents of Kitagwenda District are demanding justice for Trinah Ainomugisha, a four-year-old girl allegedly murdered by individuals including Levi Amarakutunga, the district council representative for persons with disabilities, and his three workers.
During an emotionally charged burial in Kikondo Parish, Kabujogera Town Council, the child’s father, Vincent Bagarukayo, expressed his devastation and called for swift investigations.
“I have now lost two children under similar circumstances. One of my children went missing, and despite reporting to the police, he has never been found. I strongly suspect the same person behind Trinah’s murder could have kidnapped my son as well,” Bagarukayo lamented.
Mary Mugizi, the Kabujogera Town Council female councilor and one of the eyewitnesses during the police search, revealed that bloodstains and a basin filled with blood were found inside Amarakutunga’s house.
“This is overwhelming evidence that should pin the suspect. We demand that security agencies ensure justice is served to the bereaved family,” Mugizi stated.
Doreen Kaita, the female district councilor of Kabujogera, condemned the brutal killing and urged leaders to work together to prevent such crimes.
“This is a barbaric act that should never happen in our community. As leaders, we must fight against such evil and ensure our people are safe,” Kaita emphasized.
Ronald Nsabumukiza, the Officer in Charge at Kitagwenda Central Police Station, who attended the burial, assured the public that investigations were ongoing.
“We understand the pain and anger of the residents, but we urge them to remain calm and avoid taking the law into their own hands. Justice will be served,” Nsabumukiza assured.
All the suspects, including Amarakutunga, remain in police custody at Kitagwenda Central Police Station as authorities continue gathering evidence.
Ainomugisha was allegedly murdered on Saturday in what is suspected to have been a ritual sacrifice. Her body was discovered in a nearby farm.
The tragic incident has left the community in shock, with residents and local leaders calling for stronger measures to protect children. As the investigation unfolds, the people of Kitagwenda remain united in their demand for justice.
More Allegations Emerge Against Kitagwenda Councilor in 4-Year-Old’s Murder Case
Kitagwenda District Councilor Levi Amarakutunga
Published: March 20, 2025 By: Ivan Mugisha – Nile Post, Uganda
Community members have accused Amarakutunga of sexual abuse and coercion. One victim, who spoke on condition of anonymity, recounted a harrowing encounter with Amarakutunga.
New disturbing allegations have emerged against Levi Amarakutunga, the Kitagwenda District Councillor for Persons with Disabilities, who is the prime suspect in the murder of four-year-old Trinah Ainomugisha.
Community members have accused Amarakutunga of sexual abuse and coercion. One victim, who spoke on condition of anonymity, recounted a harrowing encounter with Amarakutunga.
“He found me on the road one evening and offered me a lift. After I got into his car, he started touching my belly and moustache while sticking out his tongue. I was terrified,” he said.
The victim said Amarakutunga later drove him to his home, locked the car doors, and continued making inappropriate advances.
“He touched my private parts, and I panicked. Just then, my friend called me for our usual drinking spree. Amarakutunga overheard the conversation, and I used the chance to break the window, forcing him to open the door. He warned me not to tell anyone,” the victim said.
Another alleged victim claimed he was taken to Amarakutunga’s home in Nyabihoko Parish, Buhanda Sub-county, after being told he would receive prayers for wealth.
However, he said the councillor attempted to coerce him into sexual acts.
“He tried to convince me, but I resisted. When I told him to stop, we disagreed. He then warned me never to speak about what had happened,” the victim said.
Kabujogera councillor Innocent Kizza confirmed that similar reports about Amarakutunga had circulated in the community.
“Many victims have remained silent out of fear,” Kizza said.
Kitagwenda Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Nicholas Nuwagira also acknowledged awareness of the accusations. “We have heard the claims and are investigating the matter,” he said.
Amarakutunga and three of his workers were arrested on Monday in connection with the suspected ritual murder of Ainomugisha.
They are being held at Kitagwenda Central Police Station as investigations continue.
The allegations come amid Uganda’s strict Anti-Homosexuality Act, signed into law by President Museveni in May 2023. The law imposes life imprisonment for same-sex relations and the death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality,” which includes sexual abuse involving minors, disabled persons, or acts committed under coercion.
Once a celebrated gospel singer known for songs like Abyeitu nibikorwa Mukama and Nyentsya Yaawe, as well as a director at Nyabihoko Parents Primary School, Amarakutunga’s reputation has been tainted by these grave accusations.
As police continue their investigations, the people of Kitagwenda await justice for Ainomugisha and those who claim to have suffered at Amarakutunga’s hands.
Last month, I posted twice on this gruesome ritual killing case in Uganda, see my posts of February 17 and February 12. The brutal murder of the victim, Joan Faith Apio, a five-year-old pupil at Jozan Nursery and Primary School, shocked Soroti City. Read the following report. (webmaster FVDK)
Protesters Set Soroti School on Fire Over Delayed Justice in Pupil’s Murder
In February, Faith Apio, 5, was found in a pool of blood at the school just three days into her enrollment.
Angry residents in Soroti City set Jozan Nursery and Primary School ablaze on Thursday, protesting the delayed justice in the murder of five-year-old Joan Faith Apio.
The violent unrest followed a court decision to adjourn the high-profile case to March 20, 2025, sparking outrage among community members who accused authorities of frustrating the legal process.
Apio’s body was found on February 5 in a pit latrine at the school, her throat slit in what many suspect was a ritual killing.
The gruesome discovery shocked the community, leading to calls for swift action.
However, tensions flared when Grade One Magistrate Kibirige Apollo Kasuja adjourned the case during a virtual session, with the suspects—including school administrators, cooks, and two juveniles—appearing in court via video link.
Believing the delay was a ploy to deny justice, an irate crowd stormed the school, setting fire to the administration block, dormitories, and food store.
The mob also tore down the school’s fence, looted property, and vandalized offices.
Security forces fired live bullets into the air and used tear gas to disperse the protesters, but firefighters struggled to contain the flames as resistance continued.
Thick smoke billowed over the city, and panicked residents fled as the chaos escalated.
“We are tired of waiting. A five-year-old was murdered in cold blood, and now they are playing games with justice,” one protester shouted.
Authorities have yet to issue a statement on the situation, but local leaders condemned the violence, urging patience as investigations proceed.
Despite the destruction, protesters remain adamant that they will keep pressing for justice until Apio’s killers are held accountable.
The unrest in Soroti comes at a time of heightened tensions across Uganda, with similar concerns about justice and security playing out in the upcoming Kawempe North by-election.
Opposition leaders have accused security forces of intimidation and violence, raising fears about the broader political climate as the country moves toward the 2026 general elections.
As announced in my previous post covering this tragic murder – now beyond doubt a ritual murder – dated February 12, Uganda: Wife of school director arrested over suspected ritual sacrifice in pupil’s murder, more news on the last moments of the victim, Joan Faith Apio, a five-year-old pupil at Jozan Nursery and Primary School, whose brutal murder has left Soroti City in shock.
When will it end? Will there ever be a day that ritualistic killings will have ceased to occur?
As the article below describes, outside the cathedral, emotions ran high as thousands of mourners stood in sorrow and solidarity, demanding justice. The pictures tell all. (FVDK)
Emotions Run High As Thousands Bury Ritual Murder Victim Apio in Soroti
Joan Apio had only attended the school for two days when she was brutally murdered
Published: February 16, 2025 By: Eddy Enuru – Nile Post, Uganda
On Sunday, February 16, mourners gathered at St. Immaculate Catholic Parish to pay their last respects. Rev. Fr. Michael Omaria offered condolences to Apio’s grieving family, urging them to seek solace in faith.
Tension ran high at the requiem mass for Joan Faith Apio, a five-year-old pupil at Jozan Nursery and Primary School, whose brutal murder has left Soroti City in shock.
Her lifeless body was discovered locked inside a staff pit latrine on February 5, sending waves of grief and fear through the community.
The tragic incident has raised urgent concerns over the safety of children in private schools.
On Sunday, February 16, mourners gathered at St. Immaculate Catholic Parish to pay their last respects. Rev. Fr. Michael Omaria offered condolences to Apio’s grieving family, urging them to seek solace in faith.
He strongly condemned the ritualistic nature of the crime, calling it abhorrent.
Outside the cathedral, emotions ran high as thousands of mourners stood in sorrow and solidarity, demanding justice.
As public pressure mounted, police intensified their investigations, leading to multiple arrests. Soroti Resident City Commissioner Peter Pex Paak addressed mourners, confirming that several suspects had confessed and would soon face trial.
“Joan’s murder was like a movie. It was carefully planned, and several people played a role in killing her,” Paak stated.
According to investigators, the murder was premeditated and involved at least seven individuals.
Apio and her twin sister, Achen, had only recently joined Jozan Nursery and Primary School after their mother, Evelyn Akol, was reportedly manipulated into enrolling them.
On February 3, Akol unknowingly left her daughters in the hands of those who would later be implicated in the crime.
Two days later, Apio was lured into the staff latrine at around noon, where she was murdered.
Authorities believe one accomplice waited inside the latrine while another led the child in. A third suspect allegedly washed away the evidence immediately after the crime.
Apio’s blood was reportedly collected, wrapped in black plastic, and handed to an unidentified individual who fled the scene.
“We are now hunting for the person who received the blood from behind the school fence and escaped with it,” Paak added.
Police confirmed that all primary suspects were in custody and had provided statements detailing their roles. Meanwhile, authorities are actively pursuing the individual who took the blood.
Investigations also suggest that the director of another school in Soroti played a role in persuading Akol to enroll her daughters at Jozan.
East Kyoga Regional Police Commander Damalie Nakyuha confirmed the arrests of five individuals, including Joseph Okedi, the director of Jozan Nursery and Primary School, his wife, Suzan Vivian Okedi, and head teacher David Kadimba.
She assured the public that more arrests were expected as the probe continued.
Joan Faith Apio, born on December 17, 2019, was laid to rest on February 17, 2025, at her family home in Ateuso, Kapelebyong District.
As the city mourns, the demand for justice grows louder, with parents and authorities calling for greater oversight to protect children from similar tragedies.
Warning: the following post may upset readers as it contains graphic details of a heinous crime (FVDK)
Strictly speaking we are dealing here with a suspected case of ritual murder. In judicial terms, the violent death of the 5-year old girl, Joan Faith Apio, may be labelled murder – not a ritual sacrifice. The reason why I present the case here nonetheless, is that (quote) “The tragedy has reignited public debate on the rising cases of ritual sacrifices in Uganda, with activists calling for tougher measures against individuals involved in such heinous crimes.” (unquote)
The incident occurred in Soroti, in the Eastern Kyoga Region.
Unfortunately, murder for ritualistic proposes and child sacrifice are no unknown crimes in Uganda. In the past I have reported numerous cases of real and suspected cases of ritual murder or ritual sacrifice. (See previous posts using the dropdown menu under ‘African countries’.) Wikipedia even offers a special page on the phenomenon of child sacrifice in Uganda.
As more news emerges on this particular case I will keep you informed. (webmaster FVDK)
Wife of school director arrested over suspected ritual sacrifice
Published: February 1, 2025 By: Eddy Enuru – Nile Post
Police are investigating suspected ritual sacrifice after a 5-year-old nursery pupil was brutally murdered
Police in Soroti have arrested Suzan Vivian Okedi, the wife of the director of Jozan Nursery and Primary School, as part of an ongoing investigation into the suspected ritual killing of 5-year-old Joan Faith Apio.
East Kyoga Region Police Commander (RPC) Damalie Nachuha confirmed the arrest on Monday, February 10.
Ms Okedi was taken into custody alongside her brother, who was apprehended at the school premises.
Their arrest brings the total number of suspects in police custody to five.
Jozan Nursery and Primary School, which has since been closed and sealed off by Police, became the centre of investigations following Apio’s gruesome murder last week.
Authorities believe key evidence related to the incident may be found within the school.
RPC Nachuha assured the public that Police are diligently gathering more evidence to ensure that justice is served. She urged patience as investigations continue.
“This is a sensitive case, and we are working closely with forensic experts to uncover the truth. The public should remain calm as we handle this matter with the seriousness it deserves,” Nachuha stated.
Apio, a twin, had only spent three days at the school’s boarding section before she was found dead under horrifying circumstances.
Her throat had been removed, and her lifeless body was discovered locked inside the staff pit-latrine. The gruesome discovery was made by the school matron, Ms Osula Adong, who described the scene with deep distress.
The incident has sent shockwaves across Soroti and beyond, with parents and community members demanding justice for the young girl.
Many have also raised concerns about the safety of children in boarding schools, calling for increased security and stricter regulations.
As investigations continue, the police have vowed to leave no stone unturned in establishing the motive behind Apio’s killing and identifying all those responsible.
Meanwhile, parents whose children were enrolled at Jozan Nursery and Primary School are in distress, with some calling for permanent closure of the institution.
The tragedy has reignited public debate on the rising cases of ritual sacrifices in Uganda, with activists calling for tougher measures against individuals involved in such heinous crimes. (bold letter type and italics aded by the Webmaster FVDK)
Police intensify search at Jozan Nursery and Primary School in Apio murder case
Published: February 12, 2025 By: Eddy Enuru – Nile Post
The arrest of Suzan Vivian Okedi, wife of the director of Jozan Nursery and Primary School, has intensified investigations into the gruesome murder of 5-year-old Joan Faith Apio.
Apio, a Primary One pupil, was found dead in horrifying circumstances, her body discovered locked inside a staff latrine with her throat slit.
The shocking incident has sent shockwaves through the Soroti community, prompting calls for justice and enhanced safety measures for children in boarding schools.
A team of Scene of Crime officers and senior investigators from the East Kyoga Regional Police, led by Regional Police Commander Damalie Nachuha, continues to gather evidence.
“Police have once again revisited Jozan Nursery and Primary School to search for physical evidence that could shed light on this disturbing incident. The school has been closed and sealed off as investigations continue,” Nachuha stated.
As the probe unfolds, police have arrested four other suspects, including the school director, Joseph Okedi, school matron Osula Adong, a head teacher, and a relative of Okedi.
Authorities have reaffirmed their commitment to thoroughly investigating the case while ensuring public safety.
The incident has sparked widespread concern among parents and community members over the security of children in educational institutions, particularly in boarding schools.
Many have called for stricter regulations to protect children from potential harm.
Beyond the immediate tragedy, the school’s closure has also raised economic concerns.
Local business owners who supplied food and other materials to the institution worry about potential financial losses due to uncollected payments.
Public outrage over Apio’s murder has also reignited discussions on ritual sacrifices in Uganda, with many demanding stricter laws and stronger enforcement against such crimes. (bold letter type and italics added by the webmaster FVDK).
As investigations progress, the community remains in mourning, and police continue working to ensure justice for Apio and her grieving family.
Grief, Outrage as Family of Murdered Twin Seeks Justice for Joan Apio Faith
Published: February 12, 2025 By: Eddy Enuru – Nile Post
The family of five-year-old Joan Apio Faith is engulfed in profound sorrow following her brutal murder at Jozan Nursery and Primary School.
Their home in Malinga Cell, Nakatunya Ward, Soroti City West, is filled with mourners, yet their hope for justice remains dim.
They are now focused on arranging a befitting burial at their ancestral home in Otela Ikiliok, Akoromit, Kapelebyong District.
Apio’s twin sister, Achen Angela Faith, is deeply traumatized and now fears returning to school.
Through tears, she recounted their last moments together in the dormitory before an unidentified man took Apio towards the latrine.
Later, she saw a man and a woman carrying Apio’s lifeless body into a car before it was transported to the hospital.
Margaret Akol, one of Apio’s grandmothers, expressed profound sorrow, recalling how she had lived with the twins in Gulu before they went to school.
Sobbing, she demanded, “We want total justice for our little Apio.”
Apio’s other grandmother, Agayo Mary Among, tearfully recounted how the family was initially informed that the child was sick and receiving treatment in the hospital’s outpatient department.
However, upon arrival, they were met with the devastating reality—Apio’s lifeless body locked in the mortuary.
Apio’s mother, Evelyn Akol, broke down as she recalled the moment she found her daughter dead.
“I first reported with my children on February 3rd and paid three-quarters of the school fees. The bursar assured me of their safety. On Tuesday morning, I spoke to the matron, and she assured me the children were fine. On Wednesday at 6:50 PM, while at work, I received a call from the bursar saying one twin daughter is sick and has been admitted at the hospital. I immediately jumped on a boda-boda because my children had never been in such a situation. I thought she was receiving a blood transfusion. We rushed from Katakwi to the hospital, arriving in less than an hour. I moved around the hospital like a mad person, ward to ward, I wasn’t seeing my child. I heard some people talking about mortuary, mortuary… I had to rush there only to find the mortuary locked but through the glass, I saw my daughter lying lifeless on the school uniform on the mortuary bed,” Akol narrated before collapsing in grief.
Apio’s aunt, Mary Among, is now demanding that authorities demolish the latrine where the murder reportedly occurred and conduct a thorough investigation into what might be hidden beneath it.
As part of an ongoing investigation into the suspected ritual killing, police have arrested five suspects in connection with the murder.
Among those arrested is Suzan Vivian Okedi, the wife of the director of Jozan Nursery and Primary School. East Kyoga Regional Police Commander (RPC) Damalie Nachuha confirmed the arrest on Monday, February 10.
Okedi was taken into custody alongside her brother, who was apprehended on the school premises.
The others in custody are the school director Joseph Kedi, school headteacher David Kadimba, deputy headteacher, and the matron.
Joan Apio Faith was born on December 17, 2019, and was tragically killed on February 5, 2025. Her grieving family now clings to prayers, hoping that justice will be served for their little girl. The deceased body is still lying at the hospital mortuary, according to the family.
