COI summary

[Targeting, 3.9]

Ritual killings occur in order to obtain human body parts for use in rituals. It appears to be an increasing phenomenon. It is reported that in the first five months of 2018, there have been 72 deaths related to ritual killings. Victims of ritual killings can include anyone, although reports often concern the ritual killing of women (specifically virgins) and babies.

It was reported that deaths due to witchcraft and ritual killings accounted for 1% of all violent deaths between 2006 and 2014.

Risk analysis

The act of ritual killing is of such severe nature that it amounts to persecution.

Ritual killing may affect people indiscriminately and the risk for the individual applicant would normally not reach a reasonable degree of likelihood.

Nexus to a reason for persecution

Available information indicates that there is in general no nexus to a reason for persecution, since the crimes are committed for profit and can affect anyone. This is without prejudice to individual cases where nexus could be established based on additional circumstances.