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Suspected Tanzanian bandits held in Mozambique
2008-02-26 09:40:46
By Said Hamdani, PST, Mtwara
Two Tanzanians suspected of killing a prison warder and making away with his sub-machine gun in Mtwara municipality recently are being held by police in Mozambique on suspicion of raiding a petrol station and stealing 2m/- cash in the country.
Mtwara Regional Police Commander Ephraim Mrema told the media over the weekend that after the suspects had killed prison warder Ally Napata, who was on patrol, and snatched away his gun, they disappeared until recent reports of their arrest in Mozambique surfaced.
He said reports by good Samaritans on the arrest of the duo enabled the police force to sent its officers to Mozambique`s Musimbwa District, in Cabo Delgadeo Province, where they recognised the suspects as Rashid Rashid and Salum Wangu, both residents of Mikindani in the municipality.
Elaborating, Mrema said the suspects were found with the lost weapon loaded with 35 rounds of ammunition, including ten which had been stolen during the killing of the prison warder, and that plans for their repatriation were in place and would soon be taken to court to answer charges against them.
``Excellent relations between the police forces in Mtwara Region and Cabo Delgado Province in Mozambique is what facilitated the arrest of the suspects.
We have very good working relations with our counterparts, a factor which enables us to easily combat crimes conducted in our boundary areas,`` said Mrema.
On January 4, this year at night, the suspects are alleged to have killed the prison warder when he was on patrol at the gate of Lilungu Regional Prison while in the company of another warder, who is in police custody pending further investigations into the incident.
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