I was just informed that the day before yesterday, an ASAPI project car was stolen in the Zinder area, and its driver killed. His body was found yesterday in the outskirts of town, lacking an eye, the nose and a part of the vein on his lower leg. The car itself was eventually found (todayn) in the town of Maradi, filled with blood. Maradi is known in the Zinder area for its common practice of gri-gri, which is a form of voodoo practice. Although the element of darkness varies, common practices (even in Zinder) include wearing various protective amulets (often seen on horses and small children) and paying a medicine man for throwing spells on personal ennemies etc. This was without doubt one of the most gruesome episodes I have heard during all my years in Niger!

I’ll let you know when I know of more details. As I didn’t have any picture of the ASAPI project, I found a picture of its sign on http://www.hobotraveler.com:

Andy, I hope you don’t mind me using your picture!