Mob attacks businessperson over K30m human heads deal

An irate mob in Karonga on Monday attacked businessperson John Phiri and his family, accusing him of being involved in a K30 million human heads trade.

Northern Region Police spokesperson Norah Chimwala said police have arrested two people who led the attack and they will answer charges of malicious damage.

She said the mob also damaged Phiri’s shop and his five cars.

Speaking in an interview on Tuesday, Phiri said villagers attacked his family after he testified (as witness) in case where one Ausward Kita allegedly offered him a head of his 10-year-old and 16-year-old children at K10 million and K20 million respectively.

Phiri said by testifying in court, villagers thought he was answering charges of human parts trade when he was just a witness in the case.

“On January 27, Osward Kita met my wife at home telling her he has a head of a person for sell and my wife phoned on the development. I then informed police who accompanied me to my house…

“He told me about the head and I said I have agents who handle the human parts, meaning the police. I then called the police who disguised themselves as agents.

“The police asked Kita if he had the head, but said he would chop off a head of one of his children. The police said they wanted the child alive as they are experts in handling human parts. He also mentioned that he had another child to sell… I called the police to hear and they arrested him,” said Phiri.

According to Phiri, the irate mob burnt his wife’s car, vandalised his house and a truck. He valued the cost of damage at K5.5 million.