Newzity

It might sound absurd but 13 people were arrested for practicing black magic. A wave a panic has spread in Kinshasa, the capital of Congo, followed by attempted mob lynching of the people suspected of witchcraft. They are accused of making the victims’ genitals shrink or disappear just by touch.

In West Africa there is a deep rooted believe in black magic and feared to be a tool for taking revenge on enemy. And men’s genitals are often assumed to be the target. About a decade ago twelve people were beaten to death for the assumed crime in Ghana. A score of men in Kinshasa are convinced that they were victims of black magic. The fear spread and people were advised to avoid the touch of strangers wearing gold rings in public transport. The victim first claimed they lost their organ but when asked to prove it they say they suffered a great shrinkage. Kinshasa residents believe a separatist sect from nearby Bas-Congo province is trying to settle score for the recent crackdown by government.

But before you judge others for being superstitious, remember how many people fall prey to the bogus emails promising the opposite.