Police crackdown on rising ritual killings in Singida

Dodoma. Singida Region has been experiencing a wave of ritual killings, prompting a determined police response. Detectives have now set up a camp in the region to investigate these heinous crimes and bring the perpetrators to justice.

The camp follows recent calls by people from different walks of life and the opposition political party, Chadema, which called for the formation of an urgent judicial inquiry to address the escalating cases of missing persons and abductions in various locations of the nation.

On Saturday, August 24, 2024, the police force, through its spokesperson David Misime, issued a statement detailing how it was dismantling the cases and revealing an incident that occurred at Chalunyangu Village, Singida District.

It involved the mysterious disappearance of Samwaja Sifael Said, 22, who went missing on August 8, 2024, and on August 23, 2024, his body was found buried in a ditch, with private parts removed.

Mr Misime said on August 24 that three people have been arrested in connection with the incident, namely Selemani Shabani Nyandalu, commonly known as Hango, 24; a resident of Chalunyangu; Saidi Haji Msaghaa (Mangu), 24, a resident of Migungu Village; and a witch doctor, Nkamba Kasubi, 34, a resident of Migungu Mtinko.

Yesterday, Mr Misime said the number of those arrested has risen to seven, as four more have been detained during the past few days.

They include Asha Bakari, Awadh Ramadhani (Wawa), Hawa Mohamed Sumwa and Idd Hussein Idd.

The arrests follow the exhumation of three dead bodies who were buried at the residence of traditional healer Nkamba Kasubi.

He said two of the three exhumed bodies have been identified as Samwaja Said and Gidion Mnyawi, both aged 53. Mr Misime reported yesterday that after their arrest, Hango, Mangu and Kasubi led police and residents to the site where they had buried him. Mr Said was reportedly killed, mutilated, and then buried in a pit.

With significant public assistance, two pits were discovered on August 24, 2024. During the excavation, Mnyawi’s body was found. Mr Mnyawi was last seen on October 15, 2023, being transported on a two-person motorcycle.

“Mnyawi’s disappearance was reported to the police, and the investigation is ongoing. Forensic experts are analysing unidentified remains, including pelvic and thigh bones,” Mr Misime said. The remains were identified with the help of Asha Migugu, the wife of Awadh Wawa, who is related to the traditional healer who was arrested on the previous day.

The motive behind the murders, the police say, appears to be a land dispute. Mnyawi had allegedly sold the same plot of land twice—first to Hawa Sumwa (54) and Iddi Hussein Iddi (25), and then to another buyer.

“Hawa Sumwa and Iddi Hussein Iddi reported the matter to the traditional healer, who then instructed them that Gidion Samwel needed to be sacrificed to recover their money. This led to the planning of the murders,” Mr Misime explained.

Mr Salum Awadhi, another suspect, remains at large as the investigation continues.