Tragic incident at police station claims two lives, including a student

Geita. A violent confrontation at the Lulembela police station led to the deaths of two individuals, including an 18-year-old Form Four student. The incident occurred around 2:30 PM in the Mbogwe District, Geita Region.

According to a statement from Police Spokesperson David Misime, the chaos erupted when a mob of approximately 800 people gathered at the police station, demanding the release of two suspects who were believed to be child abductors.

The suspects, Emanuel John (33) and Ng'amba Leonard (24), were reportedly transporting two children, which triggered suspicion among locals.

Misime reported that the disturbance began after two individuals were seen with children at the Lulembela market. The crowd, fearing the children were being abducted, attacked the suspects.

A ward executive officer intervened, placing the suspects on a motorcycle and rushing them to the police station for protection.

Despite police efforts to calm the crowd and explain the legal ramifications of taking the law into their own hands, the mob became increasingly aggressive.

They began throwing stones at the police station and setting fire to a parked vehicle, registered as T440 ATW. In response, the police deployed tear gas, which proved ineffective, leading them to fire live ammunition into the air to disperse the crowd.

The deceased were identified as an unnamed young man estimated to be between 18 and 20 years old, and Theresia John, an 18-year-old Form Four student from Lulembela Secondary School.

The police have launched an investigation into the incident and are working to apprehend those responsible for the violence.

Initial investigations revealed that the children were not abducted. Emanuel John was carrying his own one-year-and-ten-month-old child, and Ng'amba Leonard was carrying a two-year-and-eight-month-old child.

The children’s mother, Rachel Luhende (22), confirmed that the children were hers and had been with her sister-in-law while their father and uncle were picking them up.

This incident marks the fourth case of mob violence related to child abduction fears in recent months, following similar occurrences in Manyara Region in August 2024, where residents also set vehicles on fire, suspecting the occupants of organ harvesting.

Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the violence and are working to prevent further unrest.