3 survive ‘mob justice’ attack in Nkhotakota

Three people have been rescued from angry mob after they were suspected of being blood suckers at different locations  in Nkhotakota.

According to Nkhunga Police Station spokesperson, Ignatius Esau, an angry mob from Ngala Trading Centre in Traditional Authority Kanyenda attacked Kennedy Moyo of Mataka Village, Traditional Authority Machinjiri in Blantyre, 28, and Peter Billy of Nchesi Viallge Traditional Authority Tsabango in Lilongwe, who are members of Manad on suspicion that they were blood suckers.

Esau said Moyo, 28, and Billy, 37, were in the district on a mission to collect contributions from well-wishers for their organisation.

“Both are members of Manad and were at Ngala Trading Centre with an aim of collecting some contributions from well-wishers as a fundraising drive for their association.

“People became suspicious that they might be blood suckers hence mobilised themselves and assaulting them. In the process the two were robbed two travelling bags, a cell phone, and cash amounting to K19, 000. But total value of all robbed items is worth K85, 000.

The matter was reported to Nkhunga Police and the police rushed to the scene where they rescued the two.

In a related development, a 24 year-old year old man, Moses Numeri of Mbuna Village Traditional Authority Kanyenda in the same district survived a mob attack for suspecting him to be a blood sucker.

“The man, Moses Numeri, who runs a fumigation business met the fate at Liwaladzi Trading Centre in the district where he had gone to spray bedbugs in the houses around the area.

“The community around Liwaladzi Trading Centre became suspicious when they noted that Moses Numeri was looking for customers. The angry mob approached him and asked about his identity card and when he failed to produce any, that is when they started assaulting him alleging that he was a blood sucker.

“Fortunately, he was rescued by the community policing members who took him to Liwaladzi police unit for safety. He was then treated at Nkhunga health center for head injuries,” said Esau.

He said the police are already on the ground to arrest the suspects on the charge of unlawful wounding.

Blood pumping rumours have grown in Malawi, mostly in the northern part but the Malawi Police has dismissed the claims saying they are unfounded.