Spate of killings rocks Morogoro as police apprehend suspects

Morogoro. Erick Julias (39), a resident of Mlimba, is accused of killing and dismembering his six-year-old stepson, Johnson Ngonyani, a kindergarten pupil.

According to Morogoro Regional Police Commander (RPC) Alex Mkama, the suspect not only dismembered the body but also decapitated the child, removed his private parts, and severed both hands.

The barbaric act occurred on June 1 in Mwembeni village’s Kigamboni hamlet, Mlimba ward, Kilombero District.

The commander stated that a tip from concerned citizens led to the arrest.

Mr Julias confessed to the crime and assisted the police in locating the hidden body parts.

Meanwhile, the Police Force in Morogoro Region has arrested Jovina Mwakiyee (33), a resident of Mang’ula ‘A’ village, for allegedly conspiring and killing her husband.

During the briefing, Mr Mkama told reporters that the incident occurred at night on June 1, this year, in Mang’ula ‘A’ Village’s Gendeni hamlet, Kilombero District, in the region.

“This incident occurred on the night of June 1, this year, at Mang’ula A village’s Gendeni hamlet, Kilombero District, where the suspect conspired to facilitate the killing of her husband, Christian Tungaraza (39), who was the head teacher of Signal Primary School,” said Mr  Mkama.

He told reporters that while the head teacher was asleep with the suspect (his wife) and their two children, he was attacked and killed with a blunt object. Investigations, however, are ongoing to apprehend any accomplices.

Furthermore, following a special operation conducted by the police, the regional police chief told reporters that the police successfully arrested Hassan Mbwambo (31), a traditional healer from Same District in Kilimanjaro Region; John Matunda (20), a motorcycle taxi operator from Dumila in Kilosa District; Boniface Mwendi (31) from Berega; and Neema Mbwambo (32) from Moshi Rural District for allegedly killing Elly Kimaro (53), a gemstone dealer from Arusha Region.

He said the incident occurred on May 26 at around 8pm, whereby, after committing the murder, the suspects allegedly robbed the deceased of Sh15 million.

RPC Mkama said Mr Kimaro had travelled from Arusha to Morogoro with Hassan Mbwambo, one of the suspects, and directly headed to Turiani to engage in the gemstone business.

“After reaching the Turiani area, the suspect, connived with another suspect, Samwel Matunda, using a motorcycle, abducted Kimaro to Berega village, where they robbed her of that amount of money and demanded a ransom of Sh5 million from her husband for her release,” Mr Mkama said.

“After receiving the money, they killed her and abandoned her body on a pea farm in Berega village, where civilians later discovered it,” he said.

Following those murder incidents, the commander urged citizens to take precautions, mentioning that many murder incidents were associated with relationships, superstition, and greed for wealth and money.