Igunga
police kill, hold 14 over witchcraft saga 06
Apr 2008
By Nsuduki Limbe, PST, Tabora Police
in Igunga have shot dead a 20-year old youth and are holding 14 people in connection
with mob violence in which the Igunga Police Station was burned. Tabora
Regional Police Commander Muhudi Mshihiri confirmed the death of Shaaban Sombe
alias John Sombe, a fresh drinks distributor, but declined to name those being
held by the police. The
regional police chief said an angry mob of more than a thousand people, holding
stones, laid siege on the police station on Thursday, threatening to killing two
women, Hawa Athman and Malizia Ramadhani, residents of Nkokoto Street in Igunga.
Their neighbours accuse them of practising witchcraft , prompting the police to
put them under protective custody. Commander
Mshihiri said the people entered two police living quarters, breaking doors and
windows where fearful family members had locked themselves in. ``The
police fired teargas and plastic bullets, but had to open fire when their effort
to disperse the people failed.`` The
Igunga District Acting Medical Officer, Dr. Kisila said yesterday that one person
is admitted, nursing a bullet wound,while four other people who sustained bullet
wounds were attended and discharged. The
people accused the two women of witchcraft, saying they had informed the District
Commissioner’s Office, who did not take due action. But
the District Commissioner`s office said it had summoned the people, told them
that DC Cleophas Lugalabamu was away in Mwanza and promised that the issue would
be looked into when the DC returned. On
the same day the district defence and security committee and District Administrative
Secretary called a meeting at Nkokoto, requesting the residents to be patient.
However police
took the women into protective custody after people surrounded and threatened
them. | 
