Category: Ritual Killing

The UK government has announced plans to tackle the “wall of silence” around the abuse and neglect of children accused of witchcraft, following the brutal murder of Kristy Bamu.

In London there have been 81 recorded cases of children being abused as part of religious practice over the past 10 years but police and church groups are convinced it is under-reported.

Eight people have been arrested in Mexico for the killing two 10-year-old boys and a 55-year-old woman in ritual sacrifices by the cult of La Santa Muerte, or Saint Death.

Until now there have been no confirmed cases of human sacrifices in Mexico to the saint.

Christine Hofisi, 21, from Chipinge near the Mozambique border, is accused of strangling the 18-month-old child before removing his left ear.

Detectives believe that the boy’s ear was sold for $20 to a healer over the border known as Maheza.

He is currently on the run, having been arrested on suspicion of carrying out a series of ritual murders following the discovery of 11 human skulls at his home.

“The suspect told us he shaves his victims’ hair after killing them. We caught him with human hair, which he confessed belonged to his latest victim,” Maithya said.

He said they were not interested in ransom or blood from the victims but human hair, which they produce to their seniors to assess their progress.

A Uganda newspapers has learnt that Police earlier this year, acting on a tip-off, sanctioned an investigation into claims that some wealthy people in the country are responsible for the spiralling acts of child human sacrifice in the country.

According to an investigating officer 40 children have lost their lives to ritual killings this year alone.

Gruesome stories of people, especially children, being killed by parents, friends, and strangers in horrific ritual practices have become common in the news from Uganda in the last four months.

At least 25 ritual murders involving children were confirmed in Uganda in 2006. In the same year, there were 230 cases of child abduction. The cases dropped to 108 in 2007, but then increased to 318 in 2008. So far in 2009, 18 cases of child sacrifice have been recorded, 15 of which have been investigated.

Milton Blahyi, a former feared rebel commander in Liberia’s brutal civil war, has admitted to taking part in human sacrifices as part of traditional ceremonies intended to ensure victory in battle.