Armed men abducted people in Gatumba west of Bujumbura

The Street that the wrongdoers used to run away in Gatumba

Unknown armed men abducted eight people in Gatumba zone of Mutimbuzi, west of the capital on Wednesday 16 November.

“Three of them were released a day later, on 17 November”, said one local representative in Kinyinya I, where the abduction took place. Residents in Gatumba fear their relatives have been abducted for ransom. “We are sure that in one or two days, we will receive a call from them requesting money to release them”, said the local representative. She said a month ago, an abducted man was released after paying a ransom to the same armed group.
While the residents say eight were abducted and three released, the police claim only seven were abducted and two released. The spokesperson of the police, Pierre Nkurikiye said they were abducted by wrongdoers in Gatumba. He said they operated in Rukoko Park of Bubanza Province, close to Gatumba. “The police have already dismantled certain groups among them”, said Nkurikiye.

Residents said that the armed people wearing military clothes interrupted them when they were sitting and eating with family. “It was around 8 p.m. when armed people suddenly came into my home. We were eating with my children and husband. They interrupted us and obliged the head of the family to get out otherwise he would be killed”, said a woman––who requested anonymity––whose husband has been abducted.

She said the armed people stole everything they encountered on their way. “Not only, have our children been ill-treated, but also the unknown armed people stole the television and a DVD, a sum of BIF 100,000 and other things from our shop”, she said.

Residents of Kinyinya I said that the armed people were many and spent about 45 minutes in the area. “We warned the security forces but in vain. They came after ten minutes but the wrongdoers had already left”, said the local elected official.

The official said that the residents of Kinyinya have begged the government to reinforce security in the area. “We are tired of these abductions. We have many times called for reinforcement of the security forces in vain. We really need to be protected,” the official said.

Pierre Nkurikiye said the police are aware of the insecurity observed in Gatumba and ensured that the police will reinforce it. “The police are ready to respond on request”, he said.