En Epic Aardvark

All hail the snuffly little aardvark, a charming creature who boasts the distinction of being the first animal in the English dictionary.

Sadly, the unfortunate aadvark is much sought-after by African tribal Hausa magicians, who make a charm from its heart, skin, forehead, and nails, which they pound together with tree roots. Wrapped in a piece of skin and worn on the chest the charm is said to give the owner the ability to pass through walls or roofs at night.

I really don't get how myths like that come into being. I mean, if they said it brought good luck, that would be at least plausible. But 'the ability to pass through walls or roofs at night'? Did no-one think to subject this to a quick, brutal empirical test?