Police hold 34 suspects for setting bus ablaze

Mwanza. Police in Mwanza region are holding 34 suspects for allegedly setting a mini-bus ablaze over claims that it caused an accident that killed one pupil and left another injured on Thursday.

The Mwanza Regional Police Commander (RPC), Mr Ahmed Msangi, said irate residents of Kayenze Ndogo in Ilemela decided to torch the mini-bus after the driver known by one name as Maguberi fled the scene.

Briefing the media yesterday, Mr Msangi named the pupil who died on the spot as 12-year-old Naomi Opio (12), a Standard Four pupil at Kusundi Primary School.

Her brother, Baton Opio, 9, who is also in Standard Four at the same school suffered a fractured arm and head injuries.

“On the ill-fated day, these children were heading to school when the minibus hit them, causing the death of Naomi,” the RPC said.

According to him, after the accident, angry residents torched the minibus, forcing the police to swing into action where they arrested 34 suspects for destruction of the property.

Mr Msangi named the owner of the torched minibus as Mr Ally Jumanne, who resides at Ilemela Kanisani.

Baraka Mathew, one of the witnesses of the accident, told The Citizen that the pupils were hit as they were crossing the road.

Mr Mathew said people decided to set the minibus ablaze after seeing its driver flee instead of helping save the children’s lives.

The RPC added that one of the drivers of buses plying between Mwanza city and Igombe, MrAziz Mushi, 36, who attempted to calm down the angry mob, ended up being stoned and stabbed.

Mr Mushi is currently receiving treatment at the Sekou Toure Referral Hospital.

Mr Msangi warned the residents against taking the law into their own hands, saying the police would not hesitate to take legal action against the culprits.