Cannibal in Central African Republic ate man's leg as 'revenge' for his family's murder

The Christian man who called himself Mad Dog allegedly dragged the Muslim stranger from the bus and ate part of his leg

People gather at camp for internally displaced persons who have fled chaos in the Central African Republic. (MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP/Getty Images)

A man in the Central African Republic (CAR) ate another man’s flesh to seek “revenge” for the murder of his family, it has been reported.

The man who called himself Mad Dog was a member of a Christian mob who attacked a Muslim man in the capital Bengui, according to the BBC.

Mad Dog explained he was angry because Muslims killed his pregnant wife, his sister-in-law and her baby.

He told the BBC that he saw his victim board a bus and decided to follow him.

Joined by a gang of 20 youths, Mad Dog lead the mob and forced the driver to stop the bus.

The mob then dragged the Muslim man onto the street, where they allegedly beat and stabbed him before setting him on fire.

Video footage of the incident shows the man’s dismembered body being dragged around the street.

Mad Dog then eats the man’s leg raw, while onlookers make no attempt to intervene, the BBC reported.

Ghislein Nzoto, an eye witness, told the BBC: “People started attacking him, kicking him. They smashed a rock against his head. They kept going even after he was dead.”

Acts of cannibalism are rare in the CAR, but many Christian fighters believe in magic, including wearing jewellery containing the flesh of men they have killed. Fighters believe the flesh makes them invincible, according to the BBC reporter. 

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At least 1,000 people have been killed and tens of thousands made refugees in the north central African country in violence that began in December last year. 

The former President Michel Djotodia stepped down in mid January after he seized power last year in a coup that led to the violence.

Video: The CAR's president steps down