A GUN which was stolen from Tumaini Health Centre, which is run by Catholic nuns, was among the weapons identified after a police shoot-out in which two people were killed and two others escaped.
Regional Police Commander, Mr Liberatus
Sabas, described the fire weapon as a shotgun with serial number CAR
69390 (Pump Action) which was stolen from the church hospital in
Nkoaranga section of Meru District, a few months ago.
Other guns that were alleged to be found
in possession of the dead suspects included another shotgun (TZ CAR
39046) and another with serial number L-814574. All weapons featured
sawed off muzzles and were found together with a brim hat in which eight
rounds of ammunition were hidden.
“Police had been tipped off by a good
Samaritan that some unknown persons were planning to attack the African
Vegetable Research Development Centre (AVRDC) in Usa-River area with the
intention of robbing the centre which is located along the Moshi-Arusha
highway at night,” said the Regional Police Commander.
As it happened, the cops laid a trap
near the centre, which is surrounded by irrigation schemes, green
houses, vegetable farms, banana plantations and thick bushes sandwiching
the premises.
At midnight four silhouetted figures in
long coats appeared from nowhere heading for the centre. The police
followed them and ordered the four to stop but they refused.
According to a police statement, two of
the suspects produced the weapons which were concealed under their coats
and aimed at the cops.
In what was described to be a
self-defence initiative, the police also drew their guns and the night
came alive with a hail of flying bullets. By the time the dust
resettled, two of the suspects were lying down and the other two were
nowhere to be seen.
“The two were still alive by the time
the police started searching them but eventually they died as they were
being taken to the Regional Mount Meru Hospital for medical treatment,”
said the RPC.
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