Family pleads with President Samia over missing bodaboda rider
What you need to know:
- His wife, Mariam Abdi, urged President Samia to step in, noting that those allegedly implicated are government employees.
Moshi. The family of a missing bodaboda rider in Kilimanjaro Region has appealed to President Samia Suluhu Hassan to intervene in the case, as police continue investigations into the disappearance.
Deogratius Shirima, 35, a resident of Korongoni in Moshi Municipality, was last seen on July 21 this year while at work. His whereabouts remain unknown to date.
Kilimanjaro Regional Police Commander (RPC) Simon Maigwa confirmed on July 28 that the matter had been reported and that investigations were ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding Shirima’s disappearance.
“We have the report, and investigations are underway to ascertain the truth of the incident,” RPC Maigwa said.
Reliable sources within the police force allege that six officers—including four from the intelligence and investigation unit—are in custody over suspected involvement in the case.
Speaking to The Citizen's sister paper Mwananchi on Monday, August 12, Shirima’s wife, Mariam Abdi, urged President Samia to step in, noting that those allegedly implicated are government employees.
“If officers have been arrested, they should tell us where he is. If they have killed him, then return his body so we can bury him,” she said.
“We plead with President Samia to intervene because people have been arrested and they have mentioned each other’s names. They should tell us where Deo is. Even if he is dead, we just want to bury him.”
She said the 22 days since his disappearance had left the family in distress, struggling to sleep at night.
“What pains us most is that the motorcycle my husband was using was found at an officer’s home. So why are they dodging the matter when they know the truth, and suspects are already in custody?” Mariam said.
Shirima’s mother, Agustina Shirima, said the ordeal had robbed her of sleep and disrupted her daily income-generating activities.
“We just want to know the truth. If my son is dead, let it be known. We are tired. The government should help us. We can’t sleep at night because we don’t know in what condition he is,” she said.
