Three people killed in grenade attack in Musaga

Six young men taken by soldiers after the attack

Cédric Kwizera, Reagan Ndayizeye and Audifax Harerimana have been killed in a grenade attack in the night of 17 May 2017, in Gikoto area of Musaga southern neighborhood of the capital Bujumbura.

“They were with their friend they had come to visit when an unidentified criminal threw a grenade at them around 8:00 p.m. Three others who were seriously injured, were immediately taken to “Médecins Sans Frontières” hospital”, says Gaston Uwimana, a resident of Gikoto locality.

Neighbors say Cédric and Audifax were coming from Top Kobil fuel station of Musaga when they decided to pay a visit to their friend. “No sooner had they arrived at the place than an unknown person attacked them with a grenade”, says a neighbor of the victim. For her, the criminal would have secretly followed them and localized the place before attacking them.

Pierre Nkurikiye, Police spokesman confirms the attack and says the victims were Imbonerakure, young members of the ruling party CNDD-FDD.

He says four arrests were made in the very night as well as one Rwandan arrested this morning.   “Other 30 people have also been arrested for investigation reasons in the morning  of 18 May during a search operation by security forces to make sure all the residents of the locality are known by the local administration ”, says Nkurikiye.

Inhabitants of the area where the attack was carried out were gripped by fear following consecutive arrests. At 10.a.m, six other young people were taken by soldiers.

Musaga is one of Bujumbura neighborhoods where strong protests were staged in April 2015 when President Nkurunziza announced he would run for a third term in office.