NORTHERN PROVINCE

MUSANZE — Grief and shock struck Nyange Sector residents, after a man beheaded one of his three wives, before setting fire to the house of his second wife.

Pangras Majyambere, a local herbalist, woke up on Wednesday night and used an axe to kill Apoline Nyiramahirwe, 31. He then used fuel to ignite the fire, in which his four-year old son also died.

The deceased had three children and was the youngest of the wives. The second wife was reported to have been admitted in critical condition, at Ruhengeri Hospital, after suffering injuries inflicted by the fire.

Majyambere survived the wrath of the angry residents who were quick to alert the third wife, fearing that he might attack her family too. He immediately ran and handed over himself to police at Kinigi Police Post where he is currently detained.

Talking to reporters, he looked composed and said that he was driven by anger after testing HIV positive last month- and he accused his wives of infidelity.

"We developed a quarrel in the night and I decided to kill her, I have not had sleep for a month because of the problems in my family. I burnt the second wife’s house because she divorced me and took my plot of land and the house,’’ Majyambere said.

Neighbours say he bought fuel last week and kept it; he spent the whole day indoor sleeping and had withdrawn himself from public. He had spent days without being seen in bars.

A Police officer, Jacqueline Nyirahakizimana who took up the case, said the incident was connected to domestic violence and wrangles which are always covered up within families. She suggested that people should always report their problems before they escalate.

Majyambere faces life imprisonment if convicted.

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