In Africa, more than 80 people became victims of rumors of stolen genitalia in a year

In Africa, more than 80 people have fallen victim to rumors of stolen genitals in less than a year. The Star reports this.

A wave of violence swept across the continent from October 2025 to July 2026. The panic began with fake reports that male genital organs could disappear or shrink when touched on the shoulder. During this time, in eight countries - from Congo to Kenya - crowds attacked random passers-by, accusing them of “stealing penises.” Kenya recorded five deaths and Malawi eight.

One of the survivors, Tanzanian mechanic Boniface Mgala, described how he and a friend were dragged out of a restaurant and beaten within an inch of their lives amid shouts of “They stole someone’s genitals!” He admitted that they had no chance to escape - there were too many people.

The Kenyan authorities have already warned that inciting panic and lynching will be subject to criminal prosecution, and in Mombasa the police have threatened to arrest tiktokers spreading fake news.

Experts attribute the surge in such rumors to low levels of digital literacy and the rapid spread of misinformation in regions where internet access spreads faster than critical thinking skills.