- Police retaliation claims four outlaws
- Plans afoot to turn Kibiti into special police zone
Police retaliation claims four outlaws Plans afoot to turn Kibiti into special police zone IN retaliation to the brutal killing of eight police officers by bandits at Uchembe Village, Kibiti District in Coast Region on Thursday evening, security agents managed to track down - a few hours after the ambush - and gunned down at least four suspected bandits in a fierce exchange of fire.
Commissioner of Police for Training and
Operation, Nsato Mssanzya told journalists yesterday that the force has
launched a manhunt after the Thursday evening killings.
He said at least two weapons out of
seven, which were robbed from the slain officers by bandits have been
recovered, so far. He said that police managed to gun-down the suspects
and recovered two weapons in the same locality where the incident that
involved the killing of police officers took place.
“Police carried out a quick intelligence
investigation which involved sending some officers to the area. Our men
managed to discover the criminals’ temporary hideout and in an exchange
of gunfire, four bandits were killed,” Commissioner Mssanzya said.
He also observed that a special intense
operation has been lodged in Kibiti District and all its neighbouring
areas, warning that the police will not be sympathetic to any form of
criminality.
“We have lost many officers in similar
incidents, that is enough, there is no mercy, we are now going to do
what the police are required to do,” he observed.
He, however, noted that the police will
deal fully with the criminals in a non-stopoperation, calling upon
members of the public to support them while they carry out their duties.
“As for those criminals that are planning to carry out any criminal
activity in the near future, I am warning them, they should abandon that
cowardly plan,” he noted.
Explaining why similar incidents have
been occurring in the area, Commissioner Mssanzya pointed out that a
large portion of Rufiji, Ikwiriri and Kibiti itself is surrounded by
forests and good roads, the area can easily be reached.
Commissioner Mssanzya said there were
very few residential homes and thus it has been easy for criminals to
make their hideouts in the area.
Terrorism links
According to Commissioner Mssanzya, it
was too early to link the ongoing incidents with terrorism since there
was no evidence for that.
He said a small group of criminals is
causing fear in the area. He vowed that police will crash all criminals
in the area and across the country. “This incident does not in any way
relate to terrorism, what has happened is a criminal activity which was
carried out by a group of bandits, who I can assure you that we are
going to apprehend them,” he stressed.
How the attack happened
At around 6:15 pm on Thursday, a group
of suspected bandits ambushed a police vehicle with registration number
PT 3713 Toyota Land Cruiser at Bungu area in Uchembe Village.
At least eight police officers were
killed on the spot and one was injured. The incident occurred on the Dar
es Salaam- Lindi highway. According to Commissioner Mssanzya, the
deceased were attacked after they had exchanged patrol area with other
officers.
The criminals managed to escape with
seven firearms including four SMGs and three long range rifles. He
mentioned the deceased as Assistant Inspector Peter Kigugu, F 3451
Corporal Francis, F 6990 PC Haruna and G 3247 PC Jackson.
Others are H 1872 PC Zacharia, H 5503 PC Siwale, H 7629 PC Maswi and H 7680 PC Ayoub.
Government response
Home Affairs Minister Mwigulu Nchemba
said the government has increased the number of police officers and
facilities in Kibiti District in Coast Region as part of the state plan
to establish a special police zone.
He said starting now; there will be
endless police patrols in the dangerous town and hunting down of gunmen
who have been terrorising dozens of civilians and police officers in
recent months.
“We are going to conduct special
operation in the area. I have increased the number of police and
equipment to help maintain peace and order in the area,” Mr Nchemba told
the ‘Daily News on Saturday’ in an Interview.
However, Mr Mwigulu could not establish
why the area has recently become a hot spot for killing innocent people
and police officers, but said the plan is to restore security in the
once-peaceful area.
He added that whoever is involved in the
criminal incident will pay the price. He added that all robbed weapons
will be recovered. “We will hunt them down and all of them will pay the
price,” he said.
Coast Regional Commissioner (RC), Eng
Evarist Ndikilo, said the government is looking forward to conduct new
registration for all people conducting various activities in the nearby
forests.
However, the RC said most of the
residents in the area were not cooperative to the police force and other
government officers. “I would like to ask ‘wananchi’ in this area to
cooperate with the government and help us to deal with such kind of
incidents, as the government, we are going to win this battle,” he said.
State House sends condolence message
President John Magufuli said in a
condolence message to Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ernest Mangu
that he has received the news on the death of the officers with shock.
“I am saddened by the death of eight
police officers. The deceased were serving the nation. I join the
families of the deceased, the police force and all Tanzanians in this
difficult time. We have lost young, energetic, patriotic and brave
officers in our country.
The President has also condemned the
incident and all other events of attacking police officers who are doing
their best to protect citizens and their property.
The Head of State called upon all
Tanzanians to cooperate with security agents in ending the bad practices
and crime across the country.
Villagers speak out
Some villagers who requested anonymity
for security reasons asked the government to strengthen security in the
area, saying they were living in fear.
“We are living in fear of being
attacked. Our village leaders are being killed, police officers are
killed as well, this means no one is safe,” said one of the residents.
Another villager said whenever a
villager is suspected of cooperating with the police; he/she receives
threats through mobile text messages. “I cannot even mention my name
here because of my security, they will send me a warning text,” said the
villager.
Cases where armed gangsters attack
police officers under the cover of darkness and take guns have been on
the rise in the recent years. Moreover, several incidents that involve
killing of police officers and government officers have been in the rise
in recent months
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