Two people have died and three police officers injured in separate incidents linked to clashes between farmers and herders in Kilosa District, Morogoro Region, police said on Thursday.
The violence also left a police motorcycle burnt and a police vehicle damaged after being pelted with stones.
According to a statement issued by the Morogoro Regional Police Commander, ACP Andrew Kantimbo, the first incident occurred at around 1pm on September 23, 2026, at Bondeni farms in Legeza Mwendo hamlet, Tindiga Village, Tindiga Ward, Masanze Division.
Festo Selias Chaula, popularly known as Walter Mkulima, was seriously injured after he was allegedly attacked with a sharp object and beaten with blunt objects on different parts of his body.
Mr Kantimbo said Mr Chaula sustained severe injuries and later died while receiving treatment at Kilosa District Hospital.
Police subsequently arrested two suspects, Seletwi Samiji Mdamanya and Paulo Lukas Sumai, who are alleged to have been involved in the killing.
The two suspects are reportedly herders and residents of Malangali Village in Tindiga Ward.
Police said tensions escalated while officers were transporting the suspects to Kilosa Police Station when a group of about 200 people, allegedly farmers, blocked the road and attacked the officers escorting the suspects.
According to Mr Kantimbo, the group was armed with traditional weapons and allegedly intended to harm the suspects, who belong to the herder community.
Police officers used tear gas to disperse the group, which was allegedly armed with knives, machetes, bows and arrows, spears, clubs and stones.
After the crowd dispersed, police conducted a search and found Kelvin Mhagama, a farmer and resident of Kichangani, with multiple injuries allegedly caused by a sharp object.
He was taken to Kilosa District Hospital for treatment but died while receiving medical attention, police said.
Mr Kantimbo confirmed that three police officers were also injured after allegedly being attacked with traditional weapons. They were receiving treatment, he said.
The violence also resulted in the destruction of police property. A police motorcycle, registration number PT 3131, a SANLG, was set on fire, while a Toyota Hilux police vehicle, registration number PT 5877, was damaged after being hit with stones.
Police in Morogoro have urged farmers, herders and other residents to refrain from taking the law into their own hands and instead use established legal and administrative mechanisms to resolve conflicts.
The police said investigations and a manhunt were continuing to arrest all those suspected of taking part in the violence and other acts of vigilantism.