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Albino girl kidnapped and killed in Burundi

An armed gang kidnapped, killed and dismembered an albino girl in what was Burundi's 18th such slaying in less than four years, officials said Sunday.

People with albinism, a genetic condition that limits or prevents entirely the production of body pigment, have long been the target of discrimination in several African countries.

Beliefs attributing albinos special powers exist in the region and the victims' limbs are sometimes sold to witchdoctors.

In the latest attack overnight Saturday, seven men armed with spears, a rifle and machetes went into a home near the capital Bujumbura and kidnapped a 15-year-old girl, local official Leonce Ndirinzirindi said.

The group then killed her and chopped off her arms and legs, which they took with them, he added.

Eighteen albinos have been killed since August 2008. The rate of killings dropped off after August 2009, when eight people were convicted of the murder and attempted murder of albinos.

Kassim Kazungu, the president of group Albinos Sans Frontieres, said the government was failing to protect albinos and said everyone sentenced to prison in the killings had escaped.

Tags: countries, witchdoctors*discrimination*African

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Comment by Ms.Dalla Mae Isaac Matlock on May 7, 2012 at 3:18am: Hicktowners, you all are not going to believe this mess!

Would you think I was joking if I told you that albinos in Africa are running scared because “witch doctors” are hunting them down, murdering them and taking their organs?

satan, I rebuke and bind you in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth! The devil IS a liar!

You know, Africa has so many problems. I am really disappointed to see that on top of all their corruption and other issues, that they have added this sickness to the heap.

Richard Ciza was alerted by neighbours last week that a posse was looking for him. He ran and hid for two days in the forest of eastern Burundi.

The 19-year-old is an albino and knows exactly the kind of death he would have suffered if the marauding horde had caught up with him.

“Some neighbours came to warn me that a group of killers was after me and so I ran like the wind, completely terrified,” said Ciza who lives in Ruyigi province.

In recent weeks, Ruyigi has seen a gruesome string of murders and mutilations of albinos, whose body parts are sold to witch doctors.

The witch doctors are making good money by murdering these innocent human beings. To protect them, a high ranking official has set up a “safe house” to keep them out of the public and away from those demon possessed rogues.

This world is in trouble everyone. Stay prayed up!