Over 80 people were killed between October 2025 and July 2026 after being falsely accused of "stealing genital organs" in African countries, according to an investigation by the BBC Global Disinformation Unit. The belief that a simple shoulder touch can make a man's genitals shrink or disappear gained traction on social media and triggered mob attacks in at least six countries.
The BBC gathered information from police forces and identified incidents in Tanzania, Zambia, Mozambique, Kenya and Malawi, as well as other countries. The accusations, made without evidence, led to assaults, lynchings and deaths.
Tanzanian mechanic Boniface Mgala was one of the victims. In April, he was beaten by a mob in Tunduma, on the border between Tanzania and Zambia. He said he had no way to escape the furious mob that attacked him without any evidence of wrongdoing.
