Tanzanian rapper Roma Mkatoliki
claims he was abducted, tortured by armed men, and dumped near the ocean in Dar
es Salaam in April 2017.Photo: Courtesy.
By Adonis Byemelwa
Dar es Salaam. In a
troubling development in Tanzania, there has been a rise in disappearances
under suspicious circumstances, often linked to individuals posing as police
officers. Reports indicate that some of these individuals arrive in vehicles
resembling police cars and forcibly take people from their homes, leaving no
trace behind.
Recently,
the disappearance of four young men from the Temeke district in Dar es Salaam
and one resident from the Geita region has raised significant concern. Despite
a month-long search, efforts to locate them have been unsuccessful.
The
young men—Ramadhan Sultan (20), Charles Kelvin (18), Abdulrazack Salim (18),
and another unidentified individual—vanished on June 20, 2024. According to
their families, the men were taken from a birthday party in Tandika Maguruwe,
Zone Saba ward in Temeke. Eyewitnesses reported that two vehicles arrived at
the scene around 8:00 pm—one a police vehicle and the other a Toyota Noah.
Faa
Khamis, whose son Abdulrazack is missing, described the harrowing scene:
“Suddenly, three individuals got out of a civilian car and arrested our three
sons and another person.” Faa, a resident of Yombo Street, Temeke, received the
news from a girl at the party.
She
rushed to the scene, where she saw the festivities continuing with a police car
present. She later followed the car to Chang’ombe Police Station but was told
her son was not there. Her search continued at the Makangarawe Police Post, but
there were no leads.
Rehema
Mcheni, from Mbagala Charambe, Mihanzini Street, learned about Kelvin’s
disappearance the next day from friends at the party. “We checked several
police stations, including the Central Police Station in Dar es Salaam Special
Zone, but he wasn’t there,” she said. Kelvin, who worked as a motorcycle taxi
operator, remains unaccounted for.
Fatuma
Abubakari, from Temeke Mikoroshini, discovered her son Sultan’s disappearance
on June 21 from his friends. They informed her that he had been arrested by the
police. “While searching the police stations, I met Faa and Rehema, who were
also looking for their children,” she said. Sultan, a motorcycle taxi operator,
had a previous minor arrest but had no recent legal issues.
Mohamed
Masoud, Chairman of Zone Saba Local Government, explained that he saw community
police in a patrol vehicle at the party. He clarified that his involvement was
only to check on suspects, and he did not witness any arrests. He directed the
parents to the police station, though their children were not among those
detained.
Dar
es Salaam Special Zone Police Commander, Jumanne Muliro, denied any police
involvement in the abductions and assured a thorough investigation into the
parents' reports. “The force is vigilant and committed to ensuring the
protection of rights,” he stated.
In
Geita, Daniel Sayi (48), a cattle trader, was reportedly abducted by unknown
individuals on May 13, 2024. He was seized at his home in Nyarugusu Ward by
four men in a white Toyota Land Cruiser who handcuffed him without explanation.
Despite searching multiple police stations in the area, his family has been
unable to find him.
Daniel’s
son, Michael, recounted: “Four men questioned me about my father’s whereabouts
and, believing them to be friends, I directed them. They found him watching
football, handcuffed him, and forced him into their car.” Daniel’s father,
Elias Sayi, expressed concern for his son and the family’s well-being. “We have
not received any complaints about him. We are seeking closure and government
assistance,” he said.
Ibrahim
Masanja, Daniel’s uncle, lamented the lack of feedback despite extensive
reporting efforts. “He supported 23 children and three wives,” Masanja added.
Salome Nyasika, Daniel’s wife, spoke of the family’s struggles since his
disappearance.
Geita
Regional Police Commander, Safia Jongo, promised a thorough investigation. “I
need detailed reports from the stations to proceed with the investigation.
Challenges may arise, but we are committed to finding out what happened,” she
said.
Human
Rights Centre Executive Director Anna Henga urged a comprehensive probe into
these incidents. “We need to understand why these disappearances are happening.
Just as with the killings of albinos, we must address the root causes,” she
emphasized. She called for a thorough analysis of each case to locate the
missing individuals.
Criminal
justice advocates have criticized unlawful police practices, suggesting that
criminal elements exploit gaps in the system, further victimizing families. The
law requires police to announce and identify arrests, and misuse of detention
facilities has heightened community concerns.