IGP Ernest Mangu.PHOTO|FILE
In Summary
Armed with a loaded gun, the serial killer first
emerged in Mogabiri area in Tarime, where he is allegedly to have shot
dead three people on Saturday.
Musoma. For the past few years,
Tarime District has been hit by ethnic clashes over land and cattle
rustling, so much so that the government eventually set up a special
police force in the region to restore peace.
In those crime-ridden days, Tarime residents did not look forward to nightfall. Livestock keepers, in particular, agonised over when the heavily armed gangs operating between Tanzania and Kenya would strike.
Since last Saturday, though, their concerns have shifted radically. They now have to contend with a serial killer on the loose. In just three nights, the killer has gunned down 10 people and appears set to kill more if the security organs do not put a stop to the violence.
The killer strikes in the night and has sparked panic, fear and shock among residents of Tarime town, according to residents who spoke with The Citizen yesterday.
The US Federal Bureau for Investigation defines the term “serial killings” as three or more killings having common characteristics that suggest the possibility that the crimes were committed by the same actor or actors.
In the Tarime killings, the motive and identity of the killer are still a mystery and the brutal acts have forced top security officials in Mara region to launch a man-hunt.
There have been conflicting reports from Tarime, with some reports suggesting that the killer robs his victims and others saying he takes nothing but their souls. Some say he has killed 10 people so far but police reports put the number at seven.
Armed with a loaded gun, the serial killer first emerged in Mogabiri area in Tarime, where he is allegedly to have shot dead three people on Saturday.
According to Mr Pascal Maswi Warioba, the killer stormed a bar at about 9pm last Saturday and ordered everyone to hand over their money and mobile phones. When some of them refused to obey the order, shot dead three people. “He arrived at the grocery, took off his hat and asked the people to put their money and cellphones in it,” said Mr Warioba. Two people and the Mogabiri suburb chairman, refused to obey the order and they were shot dead.”
The killer invaded Rebu suburb on Sunday and killed two people. This time around, he did not take anything, according to witnesses. On Monday, he gunned down five more people, according to Mr Chacha Heche. The killer did not take any valuables from his victims.
The night attacks have created so much fear in the district that locals are afraid to go about their daily activities—given that they have no clue what to look out for. The Mara region top leadership, led by Regional Commissioner Gabriel Tuppa, camped in Tarime yesterday, hoping to nab the killer, but there had been no breakthrough as we went to press.
The operation to nab the killer is led by Tarime Special Police Zone Commander Justus Kamugisha, who said no arrests had been made in connection with the killings, adding that he had asked for reinforcements from Mwanza
Dr Marco Nego, who is in charge at the district Hospital, said the hospital has received seven bodies riddled with bullets.
He added: “Since we have not yet done post-mortem examinations, we can’t confirm anything now. We plan to do it later today (yesterday) in collaboration with police, so if you will call me tomorrow (today) I will give you full information including the names, ages and the causes of their deaths.”
Some residents told The Citizen that the killings in different parts of the district have created tension and security fears.
In those crime-ridden days, Tarime residents did not look forward to nightfall. Livestock keepers, in particular, agonised over when the heavily armed gangs operating between Tanzania and Kenya would strike.
Since last Saturday, though, their concerns have shifted radically. They now have to contend with a serial killer on the loose. In just three nights, the killer has gunned down 10 people and appears set to kill more if the security organs do not put a stop to the violence.
The killer strikes in the night and has sparked panic, fear and shock among residents of Tarime town, according to residents who spoke with The Citizen yesterday.
The US Federal Bureau for Investigation defines the term “serial killings” as three or more killings having common characteristics that suggest the possibility that the crimes were committed by the same actor or actors.
In the Tarime killings, the motive and identity of the killer are still a mystery and the brutal acts have forced top security officials in Mara region to launch a man-hunt.
There have been conflicting reports from Tarime, with some reports suggesting that the killer robs his victims and others saying he takes nothing but their souls. Some say he has killed 10 people so far but police reports put the number at seven.
Armed with a loaded gun, the serial killer first emerged in Mogabiri area in Tarime, where he is allegedly to have shot dead three people on Saturday.
According to Mr Pascal Maswi Warioba, the killer stormed a bar at about 9pm last Saturday and ordered everyone to hand over their money and mobile phones. When some of them refused to obey the order, shot dead three people. “He arrived at the grocery, took off his hat and asked the people to put their money and cellphones in it,” said Mr Warioba. Two people and the Mogabiri suburb chairman, refused to obey the order and they were shot dead.”
The killer invaded Rebu suburb on Sunday and killed two people. This time around, he did not take anything, according to witnesses. On Monday, he gunned down five more people, according to Mr Chacha Heche. The killer did not take any valuables from his victims.
The night attacks have created so much fear in the district that locals are afraid to go about their daily activities—given that they have no clue what to look out for. The Mara region top leadership, led by Regional Commissioner Gabriel Tuppa, camped in Tarime yesterday, hoping to nab the killer, but there had been no breakthrough as we went to press.
The operation to nab the killer is led by Tarime Special Police Zone Commander Justus Kamugisha, who said no arrests had been made in connection with the killings, adding that he had asked for reinforcements from Mwanza
Dr Marco Nego, who is in charge at the district Hospital, said the hospital has received seven bodies riddled with bullets.
He added: “Since we have not yet done post-mortem examinations, we can’t confirm anything now. We plan to do it later today (yesterday) in collaboration with police, so if you will call me tomorrow (today) I will give you full information including the names, ages and the causes of their deaths.”
Some residents told The Citizen that the killings in different parts of the district have created tension and security fears.
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