Liberia ritual killings warning

From BBC News Online

June 29, 2005—The leader of Liberia's transitional government, Gyude Bryant, has promised to use the death penalty against anyone found guilty of sacrificial killings.

"Stop ritualistic killings, it will not pay you anything, it will not make you rich, it will not give you jobs", Gyude Bryant

During an address on state radio Mr Bryant said people were killing in the belief it would make them successful, rich, or the next president.

A BBC correspondent in Liberia says the number of ritual murders are growing.

Sacrifices have been reported in three of Liberia's counties - the latest involving beheading and organ removal.

Election edge

"We'll find you, we'll arrest you, we'll prosecute you and let me say again to everybody, if the judge passes down a ruling to say you must die by hanging, I will hang you," Mr Bryant said. "I will sign the death warrant without batting my eye."

The BBC's Paul Welsh in Monrovia says that almost two years of peace in Liberia have done little to help ease the poverty in what is one of the world's poorest nations.

Elections for the first president since Charles Taylor left the country are due in October, which, our correspondent says, is the likely reason for the increased number of ritual killings.

Human parts such as genital organs are believed to offer supernatural powers, especially by aspiring politicians and so the number of alleged ritual killing rises in the run-up to elections.

According to local media reports the latest such killing, which occurred in the northern Bong County, involved a female who was beheaded and had her genital organs removed.

"If you killed because you want to make a sacrifice to be president or senator, you fool yourself," Mr Bryant said. "Stop ritualistic killings, it will not pay you anything, it will not make you rich, it will not give you jobs."

In January extra United Nations peacekeepers had to be sent to south-eastern Liberia following violent protests over alleged ritual killings.

 

Liberian 'ritual killings' alert

From BBC News Online
By Jonathan Paye-Layleh
BBC correspondent in Monrovia

January 25, 2005—Extra United Nations peacekeepers have been sent to south-eastern Liberia following violent protests over alleged ritual killings, the UN says.

The extra troops will enforce an overnight curfew in Maryland county.

Over the weekend, a police station was attacked by people who said that the police had released suspected killers.

The authorities would not confirm any ritual killings but the area is notorious for using human genital organs to make magic charms.

More than 14,000 UN troops are in Liberia, to help the country recover from 14 years of civil war.

Former combatants

The Commander of the UN military force, Nigerian General Joseph Owonibi told the BBC that dozens of Ethiopian troops stationed in nearby Grand Gedeh county have been deployed in Maryland county to beef up the strength of Senegalese forces there.

He said the weekend violence had "attracted the involvement of former combatants" roaming the region, and said police were investigating the claims of ritual killings.

Gen Owonibi said some of the people who were alleged to have been killed for ritual purposed had later re-appeared.

Information Minister C William Allen said the curfew would remain in force "until otherwise ordered".

In the past, a large number of senior officials from Maryland were executed by hanging after they were tried and found guilty of complicity in ritual murders.

Human parts such as genital organs are believed to be used to obtain supernatural powers, especially by aspiring politicians.

Victims are often found in the run-up to elections, such as the general elections due in October to choose a replacement for the current power-sharing government.

 

Liberia army to stop ritual killings

From BBC News Online

August 4, 2001—President Charles Taylor of Liberia has ordered special troops to the south-east of the country to halt a spate of allegedly ritual killings.

The one-hundred troops are being sent to Maryland County on the border with Ivory Coast , where residents have said that a number of black magic killings have been carried out in recent weeks.

Officials say the troops will remain responsible for security until police in the area have been given better training to deal with the situation.

A BBC correspondent in the region says that ritual killings have been a problem not just in Liberia , but across West Africa , particularly during elections or times of war.

He says that body parts are extracted from victims as ingredients for potions to be used by politicians who believe their powers will be enhanced.

President Taylor has warned that anyone found guilty of being involved faces execution.