Geita Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Safia Jongo. Photo: Courtesy
By Adonis Byemelwa
Violence erupted in Geita Region, Tanzania, as police were forced to use live ammunition to disperse a furious crowd, resulting in the deaths of two individuals. The unrest unfolded on September 11, 2024, when over 800 people stormed Lulembela Police Station, demanding the release of two men they accused of child abduction.
According to Police Spokesperson David Misime, the crowd became increasingly violent, hurling stones at the police station and setting fire to a vehicle parked outside. The confrontation began after market-goers in Lulembela suspected two men of abducting children. An intervention by a ward executive officer, who placed the suspects on a motorcycle and rushed them to the police station, failed to quell the anger of the mob.
In response to the escalating violence and destruction, police first deployed tear gas to control the situation. When this proved ineffective, they fired warning shots into the air. Tragically, the chaos led to the death of two individuals: a young man, estimated to be between 18 and 20 years old, and Teresia John, an 18-year-old student at Lulembela Secondary School who lived near the police station.
The suspects, identified as Emanuel John (33) and Ng’amba Leonard (24), were initially believed to be child abductors but were later confirmed to be carrying their children. Emanuel John was with his child, Ikram Emanuel, while Ng’amba Leonard was with John Emanuel. The children’s mother, Rachel Masunga Luhende (22), confirmed their identities.
This incident marks the second fatal clash between citizens and police over alleged child abductions in recent months. On August 21, 2024, a similar confrontation in Lamadi, Simiyu Region, resulted in one death.
Tanzania is currently grappling with a disturbing trend of abductions, with numerous cases involving children reported across the country. Many of these cases end in tragedy, fueling public outrage and demands for greater accountability from authorities.