A father who wanted to sell his three albino children to use their bodies in witchcraft was arrested in northwestern Mozambique before the deal was finalized, police said Monday.
Children from 9 to 16 years old
Police in the Tete region, crossed by the majestic Zambezi River, arrested the father and uncle of the three children last weekend, after being alerted by an anonymous tip.
The three children were to be sold to neighboring Malawi, for a total amount equivalent to about 38,000 euros, local police spokesman Feliciano da Câmara told a news conference.
After the anonymous call, “we investigated and managed to save the three children, from 9 to 16 years old, who were in captivity,” he added, specifying that both the father and the uncle denied any involvement in this alleged trafficking.
Albinos, victims of beliefs and discrimination
In southern Africa, albinos face discrimination and attacks. Parts of their bodies are used in witchcraft rituals, which are believed to bring good fortune and health.
Albinism is a genetic disease characterized by the total or partial absence of pigments in the skin, hair and eyes.
Source: BFM TV
