Amid a surge of anxiety over recent child disappearances in Morocco, social media has been rife with unverified theories linking these incidents to ritual practices and lunar events. As speculation mounts, child protection advocates urge reliance on official data and caution against spreading fear, emphasizing the need for robust safety education and prompt reporting mechanisms. DR ‹ › Following recent reports of child disappearances in several Moroccan regions, social media has been flooded with claims linking these incidents to the month of March. Some posts have circulated theories suggesting connections to ritual practices allegedly tied to treasure hunting. Warnings shared online urge families to keep a close eye on their children, claiming that the coming days coincide with a total lunar eclipse. According to these narratives, such periods are seen by sorcerers or charlatans as «favorable» for rituals involving the summoning of spirits or the search for hidden treasures. Some posts even suggest that the days around March 3 are particularly «suitable», fueling speculation about a supposed rise in disappearances. Several disappearances These claims have spread amid growing public anxiety following several reported cases. In Azilal province, a 13-year-old girl named Hiba disappeared shortly after arriving home on her school bus. Her family launched an urgent appeal for help. After nine days of search efforts, her body was found last Sunday in a lake near Ait Halouane. Search operations are still ongoing in other cases. On February 25, authorities reported the disappearance of Soundous, a two-year-old girl from Chefchaouen. Security services have deployed trained dogs and drones in the search. Another case was reported on March 1, involving Younes, a boy just over one year old, from Zagora province. Efforts to locate him are continuing. Unfounded explanations As speculation spreads online, child protection advocates are pushing back against unverified claims. Najat Anwar, president of the «Don't Touch My Child» association, told Yabiladi that interpretations not based on official investigations should be rejected. She warned that social media narratives risk amplifying fear and spreading unfounded explanations. The association stressed that there is no official data indicating a seasonal spike in child disappearances in March. Most reported cases, it explained, are typically linked to momentary lapses in supervision in public spaces, family disputes, minors running away due to psychological or school-related issues, or online and phone-based grooming. Anwar also cautioned that spreading such theories can create panic and even complicate search efforts. She urged the public to rely only on verified information. She called for stronger personal safety education in schools, including teaching children not to go with strangers, reinforcing awareness of personal boundaries and the concept of bodily autonomy, and ensuring they know emergency numbers and how to seek help. At the same time, she emphasized the importance of immediately reporting any disappearance and activating the «My Child Is Missing» mechanism used by security services. Only accurate details, such as the child's photo, time and place of disappearance, and official contact numbers, should be shared. The association added that it continues awareness campaigns aimed at families and children, particularly regarding safety in public spaces and online risks.
