'Disappearing penis' sparks mob deaths

A Nigerian mob attacked and killed eight members of a spiritual movement after a villager claimed they made his penis disappear.

Residents of Osu, 70 miles north-east of Lagos, set fire to the movement's bus, killing eight and injuring 50.

The man driving the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star's bus was also killed. The movement espouses peace and reconciliation.

The state police commissioner said the two people who reported the disappearing penis have been arrested and detained. They have not yet been charged.

The religious group has around one million members, mostly in Nigeria, its European representative Jeremy Goring told Ananova. They work for peace and reconciliation - particularly between Muslims and Christians.

The bus had stopped in Osu on the way to a convention in the nearby city of Ilesa, the daily Guardian newspaper said.

Osun state police commissioner Ganiyu Dawodu was quoted as saying: "The sect was attacked just like that. Someone alleged that his manhood mysteriously got missing. And the person fingered ... happened to be a member of the Brotherhood sect."

Penis-stealing accusations are not unknown in West Africa. In many such cases, the accuser is later discovered to be a swindler who robs the alleged "thief" during a mob attack. The claims are usually associated with accusations of 'juju', or black magic.

-- Anonymous, April 11, 2001

Answers

Great story DB.

Don't know why but it reminds me a job application 'our man in Bombay' me showed when I visited there on business some 20 years ago. The job application was deadly serious - responding to an ad the company had placed in the newspaper for some additional 'Office Space'. The letter went something like:-

"Dear Sirs,
I am responding to your recent advertisment in the ***************, and respectfully wish to submit my credentials to be considered for the position of Office Space with your esteemed Company......."

It was very amusing, but also very sad at the same time.

-- Anonymous, April 11, 2001

No wonder Shola dosen't fancy playing in Nigeria, if people go around stealing each others penis'

-- Anonymous, April 11, 2001

Maybe that's why it took so long for Kanu and Babayaro to come back from Nigeria duty last year.

-- Anonymous, April 11, 2001

.....are you alleging they may have been searching for their 'weenies' ciara?

-- Anonymous, April 11, 2001

Sounds like an exclusive for the Sunday Scum. Cue Rik....

-- Anonymous, April 11, 2001

It's just a load of bollocks, if you ask me.

-- Anonymous, April 11, 2001

.......yeh, those too Screach!

-- Anonymous, April 11, 2001

Sounds like an exclusive Bobby Bobster to me

Wanko Kano and his missing penis EXCLUSIVE...

where is Bobby nowadays?

-- Anonymous, April 12, 2001