10 arrested in Tarime serial killer hunt

Musoma. 

Police in Tarime/Rorya Special Zone are holding ten people allegedly involved in serial killings that have rocked Tarime District from January 25, this year.

Speaking at a press conference in Tarime yesterday, the Tarime/ Rorya Special Zone Police commander, Mr Justus Kamugisha, said the suspects were arrested in the on-going operation designed to hunt down the killer.

He said preliminary investigations showed that the killer was not acting single-handedly, but the killings were a series of armed robbery incidents committed by a network of criminals.

He said from January 25 this year three armed robbery incidents took place in different areas in the district. These incidents caused injuries and loss of properties and personal effects.

“We can link these armed robbery incidents with the killings that had recently occurred in the district and due to that it seems there must be a network of criminals in operation,” he said.

He explained that the ten suspects were under police custody and that interrogations were going on. He added that the operation was still going on to make sure that they arrested all people involved in the killings and take them to court.

From January 25 this year eight people were killed by a supposedly an unknown person in Tarime District, something that sparked fear amongst residents. People now end their activities earlier than 8pm to avoid meeting with the serial killer.

Meanwhile, police in Tarime/Rorya are holding four people over allegations of being involved in poaching and elephant tusks smuggling. Commander Kamugisha said the first person was arrested on January 24, this year with six pieces of ivory worth over Sh20 million. After interrogating him, he revealed names of three more people linked with the illegal trade.

He said the police then arrested the other three, adding that preparations were being made so that the four would appear before the court.

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