Rumours about shrinking penises led to almost 60 deaths

Maputo, 14 May (AIM) – The Mozambican Police (PRM) has confirmed that the wave of disinformation alleging that mysterious sorcerers have stolen or shrunk the penises of their victims have led to riots in which a total number of 55 people have been killed throughout the country.

According to PRM commander-general, Joaquim Sive, speaking during a working visit to the southern province of Gaza, the wave of misinformation also caused injuries, both serious and minor, to 111 people.

The police have detained 149 individuals involved in cases of physical assaults motivated by these rumours.

“There is no mechanism that allows genitals to atrophy through physical contact, as has been alleged, ruling out the possibility of it occurring through a simple touch or handshake. Whatever the cause of death, it is a concern for us. And when a death is violent, it worries not only the police, but all the bodies of the Administration and Justice”, he said.

The rumours first appeared on 18 April in the northern province of Cabo Delgado. This was the worst affected province, but the disinformation had also spread to Niassa, Nampula, Zambezia and Sofala.

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