BUJUMBURA (AFP) — Four people were murdered in eastern Burundi in a revenge raid for the death of a villager allegedly caused by an act of witchcraft, police told AFP Friday.
"On Wednesday, dozens of villagers from Nyagishubi hill attacked the people of Biyogwa hill to avenge one of theirs, who had died of an ailment purportedly inflicted through acts of witchcraft," said Moise Bucumi, governor of the eastern province of Ruyigi.
"These four people were massacred in broad daylight at 10:00 am (0800 GMT) with clubs, stones and machetes," he said. "Luckily, several other people targeted in the raid were able to escape."
The official added that 11 people had already been detained in connection with the raid.
Witchcraft is widespread in some parts of the impoverished central African country and several people suspected by villagers of practising sorcery are killed each year.
"It's quite frequent for someone to be killed here or there over witchcraft accusations in Ruyigi province but it used to be very secret. This is the first time it has happened in broad daylight," Bucumi said.
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