Heart wrenching: Police open up on disappearances, deaths

DAR ES SALAAM: THE Police Force has issued a stern warning to some individuals engaging in behaviours that lead to disappearances and kidnappings.

Police Spokesperson, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) David Misime said in a press conference yesterday that several primary factors contributing to these alarming crimes include jealousy within relationships, superstitious beliefs, a desperate desire for wealth and acts of revenge.

The warning comes after a series of gruesome incidents involving mysterious disappearances and subsequent murders in different parts of the country.

DCP Misime said religious leaders, traditional elders and the general public should focus on building strong societal foundations to prevent such crimes from occurring, starting at the family level.

“We urge the community to address these issues at the family level to prevent future incidents,” he said.

He added, “We remind people to be cautious when sharing information about such incidents, as false claims can cause panic and hostility. Those using public platforms to discuss these incidents should do so responsibly.”

Gruesome incidents reported

DCP Misime highlighted three recent cases where individuals went missing under mysterious circumstances and were later found dead.

The first incident involved a 22-year-old man, Samwaja Said, from Chalunyangu Village in Singida Region. Said disappeared on August 8, 2024 before his body was discovered on August 23, buried in a pit with his genitals mutilated.

According to police reports, Said was last seen with a friend, watching a football match. The two were then invited by two young men to drink alcohol but Said never returned home, prompting his family to report him missing.

Following investigations, the police arrested the two men who had been with Said that night. During interrogations, they confessed to strangling him, mutilating his genitals and burying his body.

“The suspects revealed that they were instructed by a traditional doctor to retrieve human genitals in exchange for wealth. The traditional doctor has also been arrested,” he said.

The suspects agreed to show police the burial site and on August 23, 2024, after following proper legal procedures, they led authorities to the location. The body was identified as that of Said, confirming his disappearance since August 8, 2024.

Following the recovery of the body, tensions flared in the community, with some residents attempting to burn down the traditional healer’s house. However, the police managed to restore calm and maintain order.

The suspects, including Selemani Nyandalu, 24, of Chalunyangu Village, Saidi Msanghaa, 24, of Migungu Village and Kamba Kasubi, 34, a traditional doctor from Migungu Mtinko, are currently in police custody.

Dar es Salaam incident

The second incident occurred in Dar es Salaam, where a 36-year-old woman, Ezenia Kamana, a resident of Tandika Maghorofani in Temeke, was reported missing on August 19, 2024.

The police launched an investigation, revealing that Kamana had been in a relationship dispute with her boyfriend, Abdallah Mussa, 42, a resident of Sinza Kwa Remmy.

Mussa was arrested and initially denied knowledge of Kamana’s whereabouts. However, on August 22, 2024, reports emerged of plastic bags containing human body parts discovered at Silversand on Freedom Street in Kunduchi.

When police arrived at the scene, they found four plastic bags containing a human thigh, pieces of two arms, a chest area, bums, intestines and clothing.

“Confronted with this evidence, Mussa confessed to killing Kamana, dismembering her body and dumping the parts in different locations,” DCP Misime said.

On August 23, 2024, Mussa led police to Tegeta Block D, where he had discarded Kamana’s legs. He later showed police where he had thrown her head.

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Tanga tragedy

In a third incident, a three-year-old boy, Elia Mchome, from Kwedijava Ward, Handeni District, Tanga Region, went missing on August 19, 2024, while playing outside.

Police arrested Jackson Maeda, 23, from Kwedijava’s gold mining area.

“Upon interrogation, Maeda confessed to abducting the child and handing him over to his aunt in Babati, Manyara Region. Later, he claimed to have buried the child under his bed in Kwedijava,” said DCP Misime.

According to DCP Misime, the boy’s body was found at the location. Several suspects, including Sadick Lugendo, Mahiza Gumbo and others, are being held for further investigation.

Officer investigation and citizen warnings

Meanwhile, DCP Misime provided an update on the investigation into a police officer named Fatuma Kigondo, confirming that a thorough inquiry has been conducted, including obtaining statements from multiple individuals, including the officer herself. The case file has been forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Kigondo was allegedly involved in an incident in Dodoma, where four people have been charged at the Dodoma Resident Magistrate’s Court, Integrated Justice Centre (IJC), with two counts: gang rape and unnatural sexual assault of a girl.

In addition to addressing the tragic incidents, DCP Misime issued a strong warning to individuals engaging in mob justice, reminding citizens to follow legal procedures when filing complaints.

DCP Misime stressed that taking the law into one’s hands is a crime and can result in harm to people and property.

He cited an incident that occurred in Lamadi, Simiyu Region, on Thursday, where some citizens attacked a police station and destroyed property in an act of mob justice.

“The police have vowed to take firm action against individuals who participated in such criminal activities.