Tanzania Police detain game wardens following Ngorongoro custody death

They were detained for entering the reserve without following proper procedures and using prohibited motorcycles inside the sanctuary.

Confirming the arrest on Thursday, August 13, 2026, Arusha Regional Police Commander (SACP) Justine Masejo stated that the three suspects were intercepted at around 10:00 am on Wednesday by NCAA rangers.

“Preliminary interrogation revealed the men were travelling on a motorcycle from Arusha to Babati for a funeral, but lost their way and accidentally strayed into the reserve,” explained Commander Masejo.

He said police received information that two men were taken to Karatu Lutheran Hospital, where one was pronounced dead on arrival while the second was admitted for emergency treatment.

A team of detectives was dispatched to the facility to establish the cause of death and determine individual criminal responsibility regarding the circumstances of the incident.

RPC Masejo identified the deceased as a 25-year-old resident of Matejoo in Arusha City, Sefu Mussa.

“The second victim, currently undergoing medical treatment, was identified as Salimu Haji, popularly known as Chambega, also a resident of Makao Mapya in Arusha,” added the regional police chief.

He noted that further investigations revealed a third individual, Abdallah Nuru, famously known as Ngandana and residing in Matejoo, was riding the motorcycle carrying all three passengers before managing to return to Arusha.

Commander Masejo affirmed that investigations were ongoing to verify facts and gather witness statements regarding the events following the arrest that led to one death, one hospitalisation, and the third victim's escape back to Arusha.

“Furthermore, three officers stationed at the patrol post where the suspects were arrested are being held by the police for further interrogation before appropriate legal measures are taken,” he stated.

Survivor narrates torture

Speaking to journalists in Arusha on Wednesday evening, Mr Nuru explained that the trio had contributed money to fuel their motorcycle to attend the funeral of a colleague's neighbour in Babati.

Unfamiliar with the Babati route, they mistakenly turned right onto the Karatu road at the Makuyuni junction instead of continuing straight along the main highway.

"We reached Karatu and stopped for breakfast, but my companions suggested we press on and eat ahead. We swapped drivers, passed through an outer barrier, and eventually arrived at a main entrance gate. Realising we had taken the wrong turn, the driver attempted to turn back," he recounted.

While reversing, three armed game wardens intercepted them and demanded to know their destination.

Despite explaining that they were heading to a funeral in Babati, the officers accused them of being poachers.

“They accused us of coming to hunt and ordered us to disembark. They forced us to stretch out our legs and perform physical punishment. When my companions grew exhausted, the rangers ordered them to strip naked, poured water over them, and forced them onto sharp acacia thorns. Being stabbed with a knife would have been less painful than those thorns,” he recalled.

“I watched them cry out in agony as they were dragged around. The officers then turned to me, forced me to strip, and doused me with water. I lay on the thorns briefly before pleading, ‘Brother, I would rather you beat or kill me than force me onto these thorns.’ They began kicking me with military boots and beating us with wooden sticks while demanding our mobile phones,” narrated Mr Nuru.

He claimed the rangers instructed them to call relatives to send a fine of Sh118,000, but later told them to wait while they contacted their supervisor.

“The beatings continued until my colleague’s condition turned critical. Foaming at the mouth and nose, he gasped that he could not breathe. The rangers accused him of pretending illness or being under the influence of drugs. As his condition deteriorated, they bought him a Fanta, assuming his blood sugar had dropped,” he said.

“He barely drank any. Realising his condition was severe, they ordered us to leave immediately and forced us back onto the motorcycle. I warned them I could not carry two severely injured men, but they insisted we leave the area,” said Mr Nuru.

Weakened and struggling to balance, Mr Nuru placed the dying man between himself and Salimu and within a few metres, all three collapsed onto the track.

“Desperate, I pleaded for help while my companion begged me to save his life. I managed to flag down a passing vehicle, but the driver sped off while the rangers watched us from a distance. Fortunately, a local tuk-tuk washer who had witnessed the ordeal stepped in,” he said.

With the help of a nearby woman and child, they loaded the victims onto the motorcycle.

Observing Nuru's physical weakness, the tuk-tuk washer offered to ride the bike to the hospital.

“I sat at the back holding my companions. Sefu died right in my arms before we reached the hospital, while Salimu was gasping heavily. Had we delayed by two minutes, Salimu would have died too,” recounted Mr Nuru.

He reiterated that they were simple mechanics with no weapons, carrying only a bag of spare clothes for the funeral.

"We did not know the road to Babati and thought the gate was simply a checkpoint on the main route," he concluded.