Gang of monkeys kidnap and kill baby boy in Tanzania

The one-month-old was with his mum outside the family home in a village in Tanzania when the horror unfolded at around 3pm, police said.

A boy has died after being kidnapped by monkeys (file picture) in Tanzania. Picture: Adrian Mann/ZoosSA

A baby boy was killed by a gang of monkeys who snatched him from his mum while she was breastfeeding him.

The one-month-old was with his mum outside the family home in a village in Tanzania when the horror unfolded at around 3pm, police said.

Shayima Said began screaming in terror as the monkeys made off with little Luhaiba in Mwamgongo village, The Sun reported.

A boy has died after being kidnapped by monkeys (file picture) in Tanzania. Picture: Adrian Mann/ZoosSA

Kigoma regional police commander James Manyama confirmed the details of the incident.

“The child was with his mother outside their house when a troop of monkeys invaded the house and took him,” said the officer.

“She screamed for help and villagers rushed to her house to assist her in getting her child – identified as Luhaiba Said - back from the troop of monkeys.”

Villagers managed to track down the monkeys and tried to free Luhaiba from them during the horror incident on June 18.

“When the villagers came it was too late because the baby was already in the hands of monkeys and when they tried to take him back by force he got injured on the head and the neck,” said Manyama.

Luhaiba was eventually freed but sadly died in hospital later while being treated for his injuries, the police commander added.

He revealed that similar incidents were “not uncommon” in villages which are close to Gombe National Park.

This story was originally published by The Sun and has been reproduced here with permission.