Criminal gangs have turned Kibamba suburb of Dar es Salaam their territory of operation, The Guardian on Sunday can report.
A weeklong investigations by this Newspaper have revealed a number criminal incidences in the area with most of them going unreported because of fear of the victims of dreadful retribution from the marauding criminal gangs.
The investigation further revealed that, such incidents occurred recently and the criminals are threatening the life of the victims once the matter was reported to the police station.
Monika Mwanyengo, a local government member affirmed the presence of the gangs who are operating at Kibamba Shule and many residents have fallen victims.
“I was cerebrating with neighbours my daughter’s communion on 12 April when during the celebration at around 19.00hrs a group of about seven to ten youth who were said to belong to a criminal gang came at my residence and start a fight, forcing me to prematurely end the function” she said.
She further said that neighbours who attended the function were forced to run to their homes to escape the gangs. Fortunately, nobody was injured in the fracas.
“We, as local leaders, tried to form security groups so as to ensure secure at night, but despite the presence of such groups robbery is still rampant here, she said.
“The criminal gangs have been reported to Kibamba, Gogoni and Mbezi police stations but nothing has changed, now we have decided if anyone of the gangs will be caught, we will kill him because taking them to police station is wastage of time,” she added.
Narrating another incident, Jackson Mwenda a resident of Kibwegere area said that on 5 April this year the criminal gangs went to his residence at the mid-night and stole two cows worth sh.2,400,000.
“During the night they came and stole the cows, thereafter I informed my boss, and together we started searching for the cows and suddenly we found the gangs had already slaughtered the cows and disappeared” he said.
He further noted that, the incident was reported at Kibamba police station with KB/RB 1262/2 ‘cattle theft’ but they didn’t bother to come and investigate the matter.
“The following day, on 6 April the gangs came again and stole a bull belonging to my neighbour and until now no one has been arrested,” he narrated.
“On Sunday last week, the criminals went to Makabe and stole another bull and slaughtered it, called their boss who came with a car Noah model.
But when they were loading it the bull owner and his neighbours tried to apprehend them but they managed to nab only the owner of the car” Mwenda added.
“They beat him up until he lost consciousness and was taken to Mbezi police station. On Monday when the police officer was taking him to Tumbi referral hospital for further medication he died on the way.” Mwenda explained.
According to Mwenda now people at Kibamba do not sleep at night, instead, they turn themselves into security officers to watch their properties.
Along the same line, Siwa Mziray, another victim who was robbed and lost her consciousness said that she was going home after her daily activities and suddenly a group of five boys blocked her way and pulled her into the bush and ordered her to surrender each and everything, otherwise they would they kill her.
“They robbed me of everything; wedding ring, Sh 300,000, mobile phones, and handbag before squeezing my neck untill I lost consciousness and fell down.
I woke up after 30 minutes and called for help when some good Samaritans came and escorted me home. The following day I went to Kibamba police post where they gave me PF3 and went to Palestina hospital for medication,” she said.
“Before I lost consciousness, they threatened me not to tell anyone, otherwise they would kill me. It seems that police officers know these people because the law enforcers take no action upon being informed of such incidents,” she added.
Meanwhile, Kinondoni Regional Police Commander ACP Camilius Wambura also said he had “been officially informed about theft of cows at Mbezi Makabe,” but he had no information about criminal gangs operating in Kibamba.
“I have been informed about theft of cows by police officers at Mbezi police post and they are proceeding with investigations,” he said.
On 19 April, Teenage criminal gangs code-named Roho Saba (Seven Souls), Wagumu Kufa (Die hards) and Watoto wa Mbwa (Puppies) emerged in Dar es Salaam freely maiming, raping and mugging residents of Kibamba outskirt as the police vehemently denied any knowledge of the mayhem.
But residents of Kibamba say they have been recently living in fear of the gangsters reminiscent of the notorious Mbwa Mwitu and Panya Road who tormented the city for a long time before their alleged annihilation by the police a few months ago.
A weeklong investigations by this Newspaper have revealed a number criminal incidences in the area with most of them going unreported because of fear of the victims of dreadful retribution from the marauding criminal gangs.
The investigation further revealed that, such incidents occurred recently and the criminals are threatening the life of the victims once the matter was reported to the police station.
Monika Mwanyengo, a local government member affirmed the presence of the gangs who are operating at Kibamba Shule and many residents have fallen victims.
“I was cerebrating with neighbours my daughter’s communion on 12 April when during the celebration at around 19.00hrs a group of about seven to ten youth who were said to belong to a criminal gang came at my residence and start a fight, forcing me to prematurely end the function” she said.
She further said that neighbours who attended the function were forced to run to their homes to escape the gangs. Fortunately, nobody was injured in the fracas.
“We, as local leaders, tried to form security groups so as to ensure secure at night, but despite the presence of such groups robbery is still rampant here, she said.
“The criminal gangs have been reported to Kibamba, Gogoni and Mbezi police stations but nothing has changed, now we have decided if anyone of the gangs will be caught, we will kill him because taking them to police station is wastage of time,” she added.
Narrating another incident, Jackson Mwenda a resident of Kibwegere area said that on 5 April this year the criminal gangs went to his residence at the mid-night and stole two cows worth sh.2,400,000.
“During the night they came and stole the cows, thereafter I informed my boss, and together we started searching for the cows and suddenly we found the gangs had already slaughtered the cows and disappeared” he said.
He further noted that, the incident was reported at Kibamba police station with KB/RB 1262/2 ‘cattle theft’ but they didn’t bother to come and investigate the matter.
“The following day, on 6 April the gangs came again and stole a bull belonging to my neighbour and until now no one has been arrested,” he narrated.
“On Sunday last week, the criminals went to Makabe and stole another bull and slaughtered it, called their boss who came with a car Noah model.
But when they were loading it the bull owner and his neighbours tried to apprehend them but they managed to nab only the owner of the car” Mwenda added.
“They beat him up until he lost consciousness and was taken to Mbezi police station. On Monday when the police officer was taking him to Tumbi referral hospital for further medication he died on the way.” Mwenda explained.
According to Mwenda now people at Kibamba do not sleep at night, instead, they turn themselves into security officers to watch their properties.
Along the same line, Siwa Mziray, another victim who was robbed and lost her consciousness said that she was going home after her daily activities and suddenly a group of five boys blocked her way and pulled her into the bush and ordered her to surrender each and everything, otherwise they would they kill her.
“They robbed me of everything; wedding ring, Sh 300,000, mobile phones, and handbag before squeezing my neck untill I lost consciousness and fell down.
I woke up after 30 minutes and called for help when some good Samaritans came and escorted me home. The following day I went to Kibamba police post where they gave me PF3 and went to Palestina hospital for medication,” she said.
“Before I lost consciousness, they threatened me not to tell anyone, otherwise they would kill me. It seems that police officers know these people because the law enforcers take no action upon being informed of such incidents,” she added.
Meanwhile, Kinondoni Regional Police Commander ACP Camilius Wambura also said he had “been officially informed about theft of cows at Mbezi Makabe,” but he had no information about criminal gangs operating in Kibamba.
“I have been informed about theft of cows by police officers at Mbezi police post and they are proceeding with investigations,” he said.
On 19 April, Teenage criminal gangs code-named Roho Saba (Seven Souls), Wagumu Kufa (Die hards) and Watoto wa Mbwa (Puppies) emerged in Dar es Salaam freely maiming, raping and mugging residents of Kibamba outskirt as the police vehemently denied any knowledge of the mayhem.
But residents of Kibamba say they have been recently living in fear of the gangsters reminiscent of the notorious Mbwa Mwitu and Panya Road who tormented the city for a long time before their alleged annihilation by the police a few months ago.
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