It has taken just a week for five people to be killed in Malawi for being suspected to be blood suckers, incidents authorities say stem from ignorance.
In Kasungu, two people have been mercilessly slain while the other three met their fate in Mzimba district.
Police says people need to reckon that there is no evidence that somewhat proves that people can suck blood from others.
Police Publicist James Kadadzera has since warned Malawians against fabrication of malicious rumors about the blood suckers as it is negatively affecting innocent individuals who are either wounded, killed and tortured emotionally.
“I would like to warn the perpetrators of these false rumors, it is hurting innocent lives and causing public unrest. As Police we are on it and we have already started making a number of arrests,” said Kadadzera.
Thus far, police have in their custody up to 12 people for various forms of attacks on people alleged to have been sucking blood.
Reacting to the recent incidents, Chairperson for Secular Humanism in Malawi George Thindwa suggests the need for people to be sensitized on the same.
“It is totally out of ignorance. It is not easy as one might thing to suck blood from another human being because only medical people can do that, and these rumors need to be condemned in strongest terms by all politicians,” he said.
Last year, there were beliefs that led to others being attacked in Mulanje and other few districts.
In 2009, one person named Jack Bandawe alias Nachipanti, who was alleged to be part of a blood-sucking syndicate, was arrested for several acts of murder and violence in Blantyre.