Giharo: six people accused of desecrating the grave of an albino arrested

Six people are detained since Thursday, May 23 at the municipal police station in Giharo for desecration of the grave of an albino child. The incident took place on Mura hill in Giharo zone and commune in Rutana province (southeastern Burundi). According to a police source in Giharo, the three people in custody were caught red-handed digging to unearth the body. Residents demand exemplary sanctions. INFO SOS Médias Burundi

Among those arrested were officials from the CNDD-FDD, the ruling party, administrative officials and civil servants.

They are André Ndayisenga, head of the CNDD-FDD on Mura hill in the Giharo zone, Bosco Ndayisenga, CNDD-FDD activist and head of the community stock on Mura hill, Bosco Busago elected on Mura hill, Innocent Congera, director of the Nyagahara fundemental school, Gervais Bigirimana and another person from the Kinyinya commune of Ruyigi province.

“Three of the six accused were arrested the night of Wednesday to Thursday in the Giharo cemetery. They were in the process of digging up an albino child buried Wednesday morning in this cemetery. Others were arrested during the day of Thursday at their homes on denunciation of the first three”, specifies a police source who spoke to SOS Médias Burundi on condition of anonymity.

According to the same source, these people have reportedly acted for a deal to purchase the body parts of an albino in Tanzania.

“The market would be equivalent to 150 million Burundian francs,” specifies our source.

The young albino who was about to be dug up died in unclear circumstances. He was allegedly poisoned by one of the same people arrested while digging up the body, according to sources close to the family.

All these men are detained in the cell of the Giharo municipal police station.

The Giharo commune is cited among the communes where obscure beliefs dominate. Even administrative authorities are cited among the practitioners of these beliefs for occupying lucrative positions or for staying there forever, says a resident of Giharo.

Note that several dozen families with albino children have been internally displaced for more than 10 years. They took refuge in the grounds of the Catholic parish of Giharo for the protection of their children who are at constant risk of being executed.

Residents demand exemplary sanctions in order to discourage the perpetrators of crimes committed against albinos.