Residents raid Mangochi Police
Irate residents yesterday raided Mangochi Police Station in the lakeshore resort district demanding the arrest of some police officers over their alleged involvement in crime through links with suspected criminals.
Mangochi Police spokesperson Rodrick Maida said it all started with the arrest on Monday of six suspects following a tip-off from the public that they were attacking people during the night.
He said: “Following the tip-off from the public, police acted, hence, made the arrest of three suspects.”
Maida said further inquiries from the community revealed that some police officers were involved.
“As of now, I cannot confirm the number of police officers who are connected to the scene, but people are saying it’s five. Let us wait and see,” he said.
But the communities threatened to burn the police on the basis that authorities were allegedly shielding their colleagues.
However, Maida assured the community that police would investigate the matter and that culprits would face the law.
Those arrested are Rahim Saidi, 32, John Champion, 34, Chinenga William, 23, Edward Ngaunje, 23, Issa Ayami, 32, and a teenager.
Saidi, Champion, William, Ngaunje and the teenager come from Mangochi whereas Ayami is from Mozambique, according to police.
As we went to press, community members were still conducting a vigil outside the police station. Some of them chanted along the Mangochi-Monkey Bay Road in their alleged hunt for more suspects.
