Mothers hacked in albino attacks

[Niels Bohr 72]

Two mothers in western Tanzania have been attacked by gangs who were after their children who have albinism.

The women were hacked with machetes when the attackers failed to find the two children.

Albinos have been targeted in a series of killings around the country due to a belief their body parts can make magic potions more effective.

At least 30 people with albinism have been killed since March, including a seven-month old baby.

On Wednesday, attackers forced a woman to take them to her home, looking for her nine-year-old daughter in Kibondo District, close to the Burundi border.

The girl was not in the house and so the men attacked the mother.

In the second attack, a gang of four men broke into a house at the Lugufu camp in Kigoma, which hosts refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo, looking for a child with albinism.

The child, aged two, escaped kidnap after falling under the bed unnoticed.

The women are undergoing treatment for their injuries.

High prevalence

On Thursday, police in south-western Tanzania arrested a man who was attempting to sell his albino wife to Congolese traders.

The BBC's Vicky Ntetema in Dar es Salaam says the attacks appear to have spread from north-western Tanzania, where they were first reported.

The attacks also suggest that there is interest in albino body parts from the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi, our correspondent says.

The Kigoma regional police commander said the attackers had fled and a manhunt was underway.

The attacks on albinos have been linked to witchdoctors who are peddling the belief that potions made from an albino's legs, hair, hands, and blood can make a person rich.

President Jakaya Kikwete ordered a police crackdown on those involved in the killings in March, and 170 witchdoctors have since been arrested.

But BBC investigations suggest that some police are being "bought off" in order to look away when such crimes are committed.

The prevalence of albinism in Tanzania appears to be high and the Albino Association of Tanzania says the actual number of albinos could be as high as 173,000.

A census is now underway to verify the figures.

Story from BBC NEWS:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/africa/7730193.stm

[alienlovechild 75]

The attacks on albinos have been linked to witchdoctors who are peddling the belief that potions made from an albino's legs, hair, hands, and blood can make a person rich.

It's true. I saw a taxi with a lucky albino's foot hanging from the rearview mirror.

President Jakaya Kikwete ordered a police crackdown on those involved in the killings in March, and 170 witchdoctors have since been arrested.

What kind of country has that many witchdoctors to arrest to begin with and what are doing while they're in jail- casting spells on cops, jailors, lawyers and judges?

[Peikko 1,575]

Clearly a very backward country that needs an intervention from a much better democratic nation such as the USA! Let's all flag wave together!

[Nagishkaw 510]

Just Wrong.

[Yaads 1]

At least 30 people with albinism have been killed since March, including a seven-month old baby.

How sad

[msu17 0]

That's horrible. Instead of jailing those responsible, just paint them white (in something that won't come off) and put light contacts in I'm sure their friends will be happy to see them

[panamania79 2]

Two mothers in western Tanzania have been attacked by gangs who were after their children who have albinism.

The women were hacked with machetes when the attackers failed to find the two children.

Albinos have been targeted in a series of killings around the country due to a belief their body parts can make magic potions more effective.

At least 30 people with albinism have been killed since March, including a seven-month old baby.

On Wednesday, attackers forced a woman to take them to her home, looking for her nine-year-old daughter in Kibondo District, close to the Burundi border.

The girl was not in the house and so the men attacked the mother.

In the second attack, a gang of four men broke into a house at the Lugufu camp in Kigoma, which hosts refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo, looking for a child with albinism.

The child, aged two, escaped kidnap after falling under the bed unnoticed.

The women are undergoing treatment for their injuries.

High prevalence

On Thursday, police in south-western Tanzania arrested a man who was attempting to sell his albino wife to Congolese traders.

The BBC's Vicky Ntetema in Dar es Salaam says the attacks appear to have spread from north-western Tanzania, where they were first reported.

The attacks also suggest that there is interest in albino body parts from the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi, our correspondent says.

The Kigoma regional police commander said the attackers had fled and a manhunt was underway.

The attacks on albinos have been linked to witchdoctors who are peddling the belief that potions made from an albino's legs, hair, hands, and blood can make a person rich.

President Jakaya Kikwete ordered a police crackdown on those involved in the killings in March, and 170 witchdoctors have since been arrested.

But BBC investigations suggest that some police are being "bought off" in order to look away when such crimes are committed.

The prevalence of albinism in Tanzania appears to be high and the Albino Association of Tanzania says the actual number of albinos could be as high as 173,000.

A census is now underway to verify the figures.

Story from BBC NEWS:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/africa/7730193.stm

That is messed up.There is a tribe of Indians in Panama who believe Albinos are good luck.

[Danno 1,228]

Clearly a very backward country that needs an intervention from a much better democratic nation such as the USA! Let's all flag wave together!

Before we set out to do an "intervention" on that country in Africa let's finish up with Liberia, last time I followed a (youtube) link it showed cannibalism between rival street gangs.

I'd say we still have a way to go there.

We always hear these news reports out of Africa which are either barbaric or tragic, there must be

wonderful parts of Africa that you'd want to take the family on vacation too.. but these stories seem to dominate the press,

anyone from Africa "in the House" that can tell us about the sane countries there we would should know about?

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

I'm glad my ancestors left that ####-hole 50,000 years ago.