'Immortal' killer croc known as Osama killed 80 people from just one African village

Village life by a beautiful lake sounds idyllic - but not if your neighbour is a giant bloodthirsty crocodile.

The largest lake in Africa, Lake Victoria in Uganda, is home to a 75-year-old crocodile called Osama, named after the terrorist behind the 9/11 attack, who has killed and eaten 80 people.

The 16ft-long killer croc terrorised locals in Luganga for years. Between 1991 to 2005 Osama went through a particularly ruthless spell, where he wiped out a tenth of the village's population.

Stories would circulate about how the croc snatched children filling buckets of water by the shore of the lake, or swim beneath fishing boats and deliberately capsize them, the Daily Star reported.

Villagers believed Osama was immortal while others were convinced he was Satan himself.

One man witnessed - and survived - an attack by the fearsome reptile, but his brother was not so lucky.

The Sydney Morning Herald spoke to Paul Kyewalyanga, who was rowing in the back of his boat as his brother Peter fished from the front when Osama leapt in and snatched him.

He recalled: “Osama just emerged from the water vertically and flopped into the boat.

“The back of the boat where I was sitting was submerged.”

The terrified fisherman called for help, but the crocodile had latched onto Peter’s leg with his giant jaws and began to pull at him, trying to get him into the water.

Paul added: “Peter was clutching the side screaming. They fought for about five minutes until I heard a tearing sound.

“Peter shouted, ‘He’s broken my leg.’ Then he let go and was dragged into the lake. A few days later we found his head and his arm.”

Villagers were more frightened than ever before with some even waking up in the middle of the night and feeling compelled to pray for protection from the aquatic predator.

Their pleas for Godly intervention were finally answered in 2005 when the monster croc was captured.

After a stakeout lasting for seven days and nights, a group made up of 50 local men and wildlife officials lured the beast in to a trap using a pair of cow’s lungs as bait.

As Osama jumped up to grab the lungs, he inadvertently bit in to a snare which snaked around his teeth.

The group then worked tirelessly to restrain the thrashing beast with ropes and hoisted him on to the back of a pick-up truck - but that was not the end of Osama.

Villagers eager to slay the monstrous fiend were told that it wasn't allowed.

Officials told them: "Even he has rights. He cannot be killed with impunity."

Instead he was given to the owners of Uganda Crocs to be used in their breeding programme.

They hope that he will sire hundreds or even thousands more giant crocodiles whose skin can be turned in to handbags for fashionistas in countries such as Italy and South Korea.

The farm also doubles up as a tourist attraction, and members of the public can pop in to see the 5,000 crocodiles being fattened up ready for slaughter.

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