Police reveal new details as search for missing student continues

Babati. Initial police investigations have revealed that Joel Johannes, a 14-year-old Form Two student from Bagara Secondary School who went missing on September 14, 2024, during a school field trip, did not reach the peak of Mount Kwaraa in Babati District, Manyara Region, as initially thought.

Efforts to locate Joel, which included using drones, have so far been unsuccessful, with authorities unable to find any trace of the missing student, either alive or deceased.

The Manyara Regional Police Commander, Ahmed Makarani, confirmed to The Citizen's sister paper, Mwananchi, that investigations indicate Joel did not ascend the mountain along with his peers.

“We have not yet found the student. The initial investigations show that he did not climb the mountain. We searched using drones but haven’t found him, either alive or dead,” said Commander Makarani.

Commander Makarani added that the focus of the search has now shifted.

"After analysing the first reports, including statements from his fellow students, it’s clear that Joel did not ascend the mountain. We are now focussing our search efforts outside the mountain to determine his whereabouts."

Over the weekend, some of Joel’s classmates, who were with him during the field trip, revealed that he appeared distant and isolated from the group on the day of his disappearance.

Bagara Secondary School's headmaster, Emanuel Dahaye, suggested that Joel might have deliberately run away and could be hiding in the nearby community.

"At this point, we suspect that the student may have run away and is hiding in town. We are now focussing on searching the surrounding communities. This is a challenge, but we are not giving up hope. We believe we will find him," said Dahaye.

The school trip on September 14 involved 103 Form Two students—62 girls and 41 boys.

Despite extensive search efforts since Joel's disappearance, there has been no success in locating him.

Several of Joel’s classmates reported that he exhibited unusual behaviour on the day he went missing, distancing himself from the group.

One of the students, Amani Mollel, said whey they were climbing in groups, they found Joel sitting alone under a tree, scratching himself and complaining of discomfort from stinging plants.

“We told him to continue climbing with us, but he refused and said we should go ahead while he stayed in the shade. We persuaded him, and he eventually agreed to follow us. However, later, he seemed unwilling to return with us," she said

As the group continued their ascent, Joel reportedly lagged behind.

When they noticed his absence, they began searching the area, but their efforts were fruitless.

Some students suspect that Joel might have descended the mountain and could now be hiding in the surrounding community.

Babati District Executive Secretary, Halfan Matupula, also detailed the extended search efforts.

"We’ve searched everywhere accessible, but he has not been located. It’s possible he got scared and decided to hide somewhere," Matupula said.

Authorities, including 60 militia members, police, and concerned parents, have intensified their search efforts.

They are now focussing on the local community, visiting homes, and questioning residents in the hope that Joel may have returned to a family member or is hiding due to fear.

The search continues as authorities remain committed to locating Joel and bringing him to safety.